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PreK-12 Teachers

More than 1 million members strong, the AFT's Public Education unit has become a major force for preserving and strengthening a national commitment to reclaiming the promise of American education. It all began more than 100 years ago: A group of Chicago teachers, reasoning that theirs was a noble profession, organized themselves to share resources and build respect for the invaluable work they were doing. Those early efforts led to the birth of a national teachers union in 1916 that has been in the vanguard of every major advancement in American public education ever since.

Higher Ed

Higher Education

The AFT represents higher education faculty (including both full- and part-time), professional staff and graduate employees, in all sectors of higher education—public and private, two-year and four-year institutions of higher education. The AFT Higher Education division's mission is to help our affiliates and their members prosper in the face of political, economic and technological forces challenging the most basic assumptions about the union's role on campus.

CPLSA Friday Rallies

Public Employees

As a union of professionals, AFT Public Employees division is committed to improving the quality of government services we provide to our communities. Reclaiming the promise of high-quality public services is about fighting for first-rate public services that our support communities and keep them safe, healthy and vibrant. It’s about fighting to ensure that our communities’ tax dollars are properly invested back into the community, and that those resources are used responsibly and safely. Finally, it’s fighting to make sure public employees are well-prepared and supported so they can provide our communities with the high-quality services the public needs and deserves.

PSRPs

Paraprofessionals & School-Related Personnel

The AFT has organized paraprofessionals and school-related personnel since the early 1930s, when the first PSRP affiliate, the Education Secretaries of Chicago, was founded. Today, the AFT PSRP division sets a foundation for high-quality education by supporting meaningful professional development, promoting health and safety in the workplace, and demonstrating the importance of a strong and just work ethic in a bully-free environment. Most important is its commitment to safe and welcoming schools and colleges for students who deserve high-quality food programs; reliable school buses; clean, secure buildings; efficiently run offices; and well-trained staff.

Massachusetts Residents Vote for Educational Equity with Yes on Ballot Question 2

Yes on 2 Facebook Square

“Voters in Massachusetts gave students across the Commonwealth a brighter and stronger future. Massachusetts residents know that true learning is about much more than can be measured by a single standardized test and have now given teachers the ability to create safer and stronger learning environments where setting and meeting high standards is embedded in every aspect of a school’s curriculum.

“This is an important step toward addressing the systemic opportunity gaps that are exacerbated by decades of over reliance on a one-size-fits-all standardized test.”

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AFT Massachusetts Celebrates Senator Warren’s Election to a Third Term

Senator Warren

“It is hard to think of a stronger advocate for educators, public schools, and the lives of students across the Commonwealth than Senator Warren.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Senator on her agenda for public education, racial and social justice, and in building an economy that works for all by making it easier for people to join a union and by tackling our nation’s crippling student debt crisis.

“Senator Warren has stood with us every step of the way in our ongoing efforts to strengthen public education for all, particularly for the students and communities with the greatest needs. We are excited to see what she will accomplish over her next term.”

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Scholarships for AFT Families

2025 Scholarship Program

The AFT Massachusetts, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, and unions across the Commonwealth are dedicated to teaching the next generation of trade unionists to build a strong and bright future for the working families of Massachusetts and beyond. As part of that work,  the AFT Massachusetts awards thousands of dollars in scholarships each year to eligible high school seniors who are dependents of AFT Massachusetts members. The scholarships – which are awarded based on results of a labor history exam administered by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO – honor former AFT leaders Kathy Kelley, Albert Shanker, and Sandra Feldman, and long-time field representative Jay Porter.

While envisioning our future, it’s critical that we never stop teaching about and learning from our rich history. The labor history exam focuses on teaching our children about the history of unions and about groups of people who fought for better wages and protections. 

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