AFT Massachusetts | AFT Stateweb

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 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.

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.

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.

Stand Up for Democracy March 28!

Together, we’ve turned out for bigger and bigger actions to defend our labor movement and our democracy, from Hands Off last April, to the first No Kings in June, to Labor Day 2025, to No Kings II last October.

As the snow *finally!* thaws, it’s time to take to the streets again on March 28th for No Kings III. Will you join us?

In the months since the last No Kings event, we’ve seen the ongoing dismantling of the US Dept. of Education, ICE occupation of Minnesota—including raids on schools and the detention of 5-year-old Liam Ramos on his way home from school—and a renewed effort to pass the SAVE Act, which would impose aggressive voter ID laws that would disenfranchise millions of Americans.

But we’re fighting back. For our community. For our students. For each other. And we hope you’ll join us on March 28th for No Kings III.