The 2026 AFT Massachusetts Convention marked a year of strength in the face of unprecedented challenges. A diverse union, the AFT MA is always ready to RISE UP in solidarity and meet the moment. And that’s what this year’s convention was all about and what our theme was for this year.
Awards Dinner
The weekend began with our annual Convention Awards Dinner at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Dorchester. As we continue our work to protect and strengthen public education while advancing the needs of working people, we must also look ahead to building up the next generation of leaders. In that vein, we awarded $18,000 in college scholarships to the children of nine AFT Massachusetts members. Congratulations to our 2026 Labor Scholarship Award Winners: Ava O’Donnell, Jay Tamarin, Addison Coyne, John Reilly, Nicholas Fusco, Julie Wenson, Brooks Workman, Greyson Kouy, and Ryan Urbanowicz. We wish them the best of luck as they embark on the next phase in their education and look forward to hearing about their future endeavors.
We also honored eight AFT Massachusetts members who have demonstrated an outstanding level of service and dedication to their local union with the 2026 Distinguished Service Award. Nominated by their local presidents, these educators, librarians, and retirees not only strengthen the role of their local and our overall organization, they’re consistently making a difference in the lives of their students and communities. Congratulations to our 2026 Distinguished Service Award Winners: Betsy Buckland (Massachusetts Library Staff Association), Colleen Corcoran (United Teachers of Lowell), Marjorie Crosby (Boston Teachers Union), Mark Lonergan (Boston Teachers Union), Sheila O’Neil (Lynn Teachers Union), Jim Queenan (AFT Amesbury), Kelsey Reid (Lynn Teachers Union), and Elizabeth Seitz (Berklee Faculty Union).
The evening also marked the 50th anniversary of both the Chelmsford Federation of Teachers, Local 3569 and the Medway Federation of Teachers, Local 3645.
The reception featured the amazing vocals of two of our Berklee Faculty Union leaders: Vice President for PT Faculty Nichelle J. Mungo and Divisional Representative Utar Artun. Before we kicked-off the presentation of awards and scholarships, Nichelle and Utar performed the song Rise Up in acknowledgment of our convention theme this year.
Annual Convention
On Saturday, we came together at IBEW Local 103 union hall in Dorchester with 232 registered delegates seated, representing over two dozen AFT Massachusetts locals.
Even in the face of difficult times, from the affordability crisis to attacks on public education to widespread campaigns against the labor movement, the AFT Massachusetts still stands strong.
Since the 2025 Convention, over 25 AFT Massachusetts locals secured new contracts for their members. Eleven of those contracts cover members working in public libraries, 22 of them cover Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel (PSRPs), and five cover our higher education members. All of these contracts are bringing higher pay, better benefits, and stronger workplace protections to thousands of members across the state.
Leaders reported that at a time when unions are facing unprecedented assault, the AFT Massachusetts has been able to see consistent growth. The Massachusetts Library Staff Association now represents the Belmont Public Library. First contracts were ratified for four locals. Years of organizing at Berklee College of Music continues to pay off as members recently marched across campus to deliver a petition for voluntary recognition of a new staff union.
This year’s convention covered important topics as the state federation—along with our locals and members—work at the community, state, and federal levels to protect public education and access to knowledge through our libraries, colleges, and schools. Delegates were also tasked with the important job of electing leaders to serve as President, Secretary-Treasurer, and the AFT MA’s 27-member Executive Board for the 2026-2028 term.
Delegates at this year’s convention unanimously re-elected Jessica Tang to serve as President, a position she has held since being elected in 2024, and Brant Duncan to serve as Secretary-Treasurer, a position he has held for ten years.
“I am deeply grateful to be a part of our union family and honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve as AFT Massachusetts President,” said Tang. “Thank you to all of our amazing unionists, staff and community for coming together as we celebrated our wins and planned for the challenges to come. In the labor movement, we must remember that every successful campaign is greater than one person—our power is in our solidarity and collective action. Over the next two years, I look forward to building upon our strength and safeguarding our students, schools, and communities from these dangerous assaults on public education and working families.”
"I have had the privilege and the honor of working alongside Jessica for 9 years in union leadership. I know that educators and workers couldn't ask for a stronger leader. I have witnessed Jessica in meetings with a single member where she demonstrated deep compassion and empathy, to leading negotiations where she fiercely defended the rights of members, to speaking to 180,000 people on the Boston Common at the recent No Kings rally. Jessica's leadership is unparalleled," said Boston Teachers Union President Erik Berg, who rose to nominate Tang.
Prior to being elected AFT MA President, Tang served as President of the Boston Teachers Union for seven years after serving as the BTU’s first-ever Organizing Director. Her career as an educator began in 2005 as a middle school teacher in the Boston Public Schools.
“Serving as Secretary-Treasurer of the AFT Massachusetts continues to be a tremendous honor. I remain steadfast in my commitment to providing our current locals and members with that network of support while identifying new opportunities for our union to expand its reach,” said Duncan. “I look forward to working with each of our locals in our campaign to rise up as a united force for good throughout 2026 and beyond.”
Duncan started his career in the Lynn Public Schools as a paraprofessional and later served as an elementary and middle school teacher, teaching technology and mathematics. He spent years serving as a Vice President to the AFT Massachusetts and as President of the Lynn Teachers Union before being elected Secretary-Treasurer in 2016.
“Brant works tirelessly on behalf of every member in AFT Massachusetts. As a local president, I know that Brant can answer any question from how to run an election correctly to addressing an individual member’s concerns and everything in between,” said Chelsea Teachers Union President Kathryn Anderson, who rose to nominate Duncan. “In times of uncertainty and direct attacks on unions, I am completely confident in Brant’s steady hand and dedication to the health of the AFT Massachusetts.”
AFT Massachusetts Convention delegates elected to serve on the Executive Board for the next two years are: Abeer Abdullah (Lynn Teachers Union); Kathryn Anderson (Chelsea Teachers Union); Kimberly Barry (Lawrence Teachers Union); Erik Berg (Boston Teachers Union); Rose Marie Bergeron (United Teachers of Lowell); Deborah Blinder (Holliston Federation of Teachers); Toni Bourgea (South Shore Regional Vocational Teachers Federation); Brenda Chaney (Boston Teachers Union); Barbara Carrapichano (North Shore Consortium Employees Federation); Kathy Delaney (Lawrence Teachers Union); Nicole Doucette (Lynn Teachers Union); Marianne Dumont (United Teachers of Lowell); Colleen Hart (Boston Teachers Union); Mary Henry (Peabody Federation of Teachers); Patricia Kelly (Massachusetts Library Staff Association); A. Vanessa La Rocque (Boston Teachers Union); Johnny McInnis (Boston Teachers Union); Vanesa Mendoza-Mercado (Chelsea Teachers Union); Christine Moyer (Medway Federation of Teachers); Phil O’Connor (Lynn Teachers Union); Mindy Richardson (Lawrence Teachers Union); Kathryn Sullivan (Chelmsford Federation of Teachers); Karen Tucker (Salem Teachers Union); Susan Uvanni (United Teachers of Lowell); Michelle Willis (New Bedford Federation of Paraprofessionals); Kimberly Wilson (UMass Faculty Federation); Cynthia Yetman (AFT Amesbury).
Convention delegates also heard from AFT National Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram. Secretary-Treasurer Ingram offered deeply moving and personal remarks about his experience with paraprofessionals as the father of a special needs child, lifting up the critical work that our paras here in Massachusetts and across the country do to support our students. He also shared the many ways our national affiliate is fighting for affordability and the needs of everyday working people, while leading the fight for a stronger, better democracy.
Members of the AFT Massachusetts Organizing Team were on hand to provide delegates with updates on their work this past year in terms of building power and momentum, along with what is planned for the coming year. Reflections included remarks from: Jeremy Shenk, Keisha Barnes, Ray Dinsmore, Emma Friend, Estefania “Tefa” Galvis, Gina O’Toole, and Rory Millark.
Three of our retiring members received Special President’s Awards to recognize their service to their schools, students, and locals: United Teachers of Lowell President Paul Georges, Springfield Federation of Paraprofessionals Catherine Mastronardi, and North Attleborough Federation of Teachers President Nicole Reminder.
Delegates were presented with and unanimously passed four resolutions: AFT Massachusetts Calls for Action to Reverse Fiscal Crisis in Public Education and Public Libraries; AFT Massachusetts: Time to Show Up for PSRPs Like They Show Up for Our Schools, Students, and Communities; AFT Massachusetts Stands in Solidarity with Immigrant Families, Demands Action to Get ICE Out of Communities; and AFT Massachusetts Resolution Declaring May Day a Day of Civic Action.
We also presented two Special President’s Awards to Senator Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville) and Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), two staunch supporters of public education who announced earlier this year they would not be seeking re-election. Senate President Karen Spilka sent in a video for the Convention, highlighting these two leaders for their years championing public education and the work of the AFT Massachusetts on Beacon Hill.
“In the labor movement, we must remember that every successful campaign is greater than one person—our power is in our solidarity and collective action,” President Tang told delegates. “We must not lose sight of the important role we play to support and safeguard one another as we work toward a common goal. And while the goal is important, we must always be willing to examine the way we get there, how it unites us, how it builds our power, and what risks we are willing to take to own our power. It is through our fights together that we create the world we would like to live and work in.”
We want to give special thanks to the Peabody Veterans Memorial High School Concert Choir and the DEAFinitely Crew from the Horace Mann School for the Deaf (Boston) for bringing our delegates an extra dose of energy and entertainment with their wonderful performances. We had the Lawrence High School JROTC members on hand for the Presentation of Colors and a phenomenal Lawrence High School alum Genesis Toledo to sing the National Anthem.
Our Convention–our largest yet in at least the last two decades—was an inspiring gathering and celebration reminding us that despite unprecedented challenges, our union is strong and we will continue to RISE UP to meet the moment. Our strength comes from the ground up and we thank all of our delegates for being a part of our 2026 Convention and playing an integral role in moving our union and members forward. This successful day would not have been possible without the work of our fellow union brothers and sisters: everyone at IBEW Local 103, the audio and video team from IATSE Local 11, and the members of UNITE Here Local 26 at both the Renaissance Boston Hotel and with Season's Catering.