Banner

Educators 1000 360

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.

AFT Massachusetts Celebrates Passage of Social Security Fairness Act

Strengthen Social Security

On December 21, 2024, the U.S. Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provisions of the Social Security law – which both unfairly penalize thousands of public sector retirees in Massachusetts, including school teachers. 

 

“No one who pays into the Social Security system should see the benefits they’ve earned cut or eliminated – especially those who dedicated their careers to public service,” said American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “In addition to fair wages, reasonable benefits and safe working conditions, everyone deserves a secure and dignified retirement and we are pleased to say that after years of advocacy, our collective efforts paid off to ensure all workers have access to these benefits.” 

MORE

Chelsea Educators Secure Historic New Contract - Provides living wages, humane benefits, and stronger supports for educators and students

CTU Facebook Square

“The consequences of this agreement will be transformative, providing greater stability and support for our educators and our students. This is a win for the entire Chelsea community, and we couldn’t have done it without the sustained organizing and solidarity of educators, families, and community members,” said CTU President Kathryn Anderson.

The agreement includes competitive wage increases for all educators, including the largest wage increase for paraprofessionals that the district has ever seen. Paraprofessionals currently receiving $17.96 an hour will see a 62 percent pay increase over the course of the three-year contract, up to $29.05 per hour. Clerks will see a 31 percent increase over the life of the contract – going from $27.99 to $36.61 per hour.

It also includes the first district-paid parental leave benefit (three weeks the first year of the contract and then six weeks in subsequent years), as well as up to 12 weeks paid leave for members to care for ill family members and up to 35 days from the sick bank.

MORE