AFT has officially endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president. AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang, who voted in support of the endorsement Sunday as a member of the AFT Executive Council before it went to the full delegation Monday, released the following statement:

“President Joe Biden is the best labor president in our nation’s history, and we at AFT Massachusetts are deeply grateful to him for his strong leadership and record accomplishments for the American people, particularly women’s rights, labor rights and public education. His legacy as a leader who brought America out of the COVID-19 pandemic, fixed the worst economy since the Great Depression, and delivered again and again for working people is unmatched.

“Vice President Kamala Harris has been by President Biden’s side leading the fight for reproductive rights, labor rights, and social and economic justice. She is the right person for this moment, and we are proud to be a part of her historic endorsement at the AFT convention.

Educators and staff at the Community Charter School of Cambridge (CCSC) today announced that they are forming a union with the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts (AFTMA), joining a surge of union organizing at Massachusetts charter schools this year. The union will represent 66 teachers and other school employees at CCSC, which educates around 250 students in grades 6-12.

“I’m excited to welcome the educators and staff at the Community Charter School of Cambridge to our AFT union family! We are thrilled to support their organizing for better working and learning conditions,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “All educators and school staff deserve a true voice on the job, and all students deserve a healthy school environment that meets their diverse learning needs. CCSC employees are part of a powerful movement of charter school educators who are forming unions with AFT Massachusetts because they understand that when we organize together, we can build the schools and communities our students and their families deserve.”

“We are extremely disappointed with Acting Commissioner Johnston’s decision to allow a political ally of the Mayor to serve as the next Superintendent of Lawrence over three highly qualified candidates who have the skills, experience, and community ties necessary for this critical role. 

“Lawrence deserves a superintendent who is ready to take our children and schools to new heights and has the proven ability to work collaboratively with educators at this critical time in the city’s schools. Sadly, that’s not what they’re getting.

“The Lawrence Alliance for Education and Acting Commissioner Johnston have completely ignored months of work by the search committee, a community process that included valuable input from families and residents, in-depth  candidate surveys, and feedback from professional educators, administrators, and staff."

HAPPY RETIREMENT!!!!! Wait. What? You are not ready to retire? Maybe you just began your teaching career, or you just finished your tenth year, or twentieth year, or thirtieth year? So why start to think about retirement? From day one of your teaching career, you contribute to the MTRS, the Massachusetts Teachers RETIREMENT system. Since that day you are officially a retiree in waiting.

Working together is what the Massachusetts Retirees United does best. The MRU is currently working to increase the benefits for elderly retirees who retired before 2004. In the wake of staggering inflation, retired educators are facing rising costs of basic necessities such as food, rent, gas and healthcare. Everything we can pass and advocate for, we will. Members of the MRU depend on us to fight for them.