News from AFT Massachusetts and President Beth Kontos - April 2024
A Message from Beth Kontos
When I was elected as AFT Massachusetts President six years ago, I promised to use my ‘teacher voice’ to stand up for educators and students. I pledged to fight for full funding of public schools, libraries, and higher education, and to work to make our schools joyful learning environments that support students to the fullest. And I planned to recommit our union to organizing, because we are strongest when we face our challenges together. Who could have predicted everything that we would face?
As I prepare to step down as President this weekend, I’m reflecting on the eventful past six years, and everything we achieved together through that time. When faced with threats, from the U.S. Supreme Court’s anti-worker decision in the Janus case to the COVID-19 pandemic, we responded by organizing, and we won real progress for our members and students across the state. From the passage of the Student Opportunity Act and the Fair Share Amendment; to our pandemic-era advocacy for HVAC improvements, protective equipment, and vaccines; to the growth of our AFT Massachusetts organizing department and the strong contracts won by locals across the state; I’m immensely proud of the victories we’ve won together.
Over the past six years, we’ve overcome enormous challenges and won incredible victories by organizing together as one union family. And I’m confident that we will continue to do so.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our convention on May 3rd and 4th where we will elect and welcome new leadership. And I want to thank all of the dedicated staff who commit themselves to our union. Their dedicated work helps enable everything we do.
Advocating for Workers Last week, I joined other members of the MA AFL-CIO and MASSCOSH to observe Workers Memorial Day and honor the fifty-seven workers in Massachusetts who lost their lives from traumatic injuries on the job last year. No worker should face dangerous working conditions that put their life and health at risk, and we must continue to support improved workplace standards, fight against attacks on workplace safety measures, and demand action to win stronger protections for all working people.
Earlier this month, I walked the picket line with striking BU Grad Workers, who have been on strike for the past five weeks after negotiating with BU since June 2023. Rather than meeting the union’s demands for livable wages and better working conditions, BU’s administration has responded with threats and stall-and-delay tactics. Grad workers play a critical role in our colleges and universities, and they deserve to be treated as the valued professionals they are!
Climate Corner This month, I joined members of 350Mass and renowned environmentalist Bill McKibben to discuss the importance of building a clean energy economy with good union jobs. I spoke about the impact that climate change is having on our schools and students, and the opportunity we have to put thousands of people to work in the green economy. And I called for a just transition for current energy workers and a need to pass bills that will help transition our schools to climate resilient green buildings.
Last year, ten AFT Massachusetts members participated in a two-day Climate Action Through Education program at MIT to help develop interdisciplinary, standards-aligned climate change curricula for U.S. high school teachers in History, English/Language Arts, Math, and Science, and the program is taking place once again this year, on August 19 & 20! This curriculum emphasizes climate solutions, goes beyond climate science, and leans on MIT’s vast research and resources around climate change. Each participating educator receives 10 PDPs, and a $350 stipend from AFT Massachusetts is available. The free, open-source curriculum, including more than 20 labs, lessons, units, and activities. Interested educators can apply here.
Register for the next Climate Resilient Schools Coalition Network meeting on May 9 from 4pm-5pm! This regular series supports locally-organized district teams through the process of introducing and winning climate action resolutions in their school districts. This month, we are excited to learn about the efforts of organizers in Tucson, AZ, who are in the midst of introducing a powerful climate resolution to their school committee. District teams will also have a chance to share their own updates. No matter where you are in the process, join us on May 9th to get involved.
Here are some additional announcements and resources from our AFT network:
2024 PSRP Conference
AFT Massachusetts 2024 Convention
This year, AFT Massachusetts members are celebrating…The Power of We at the 2024 Annual AFT Massachusetts Convention!
When we are united as union members, we can accomplish enormous things. Over the past few years, we’ve seen the impact of our collective power as we worked to pass and implement the Student Opportunity Act, state legislation that is delivering transformative investments in our public schools. We helped build a statewide grassroots campaign to win the Fair Share Amendment, which is now funding education improvements statewide: from providing free school meals for all students and building green schools, to making public college more affordable and rebuilding our transportation infrastructure.
Now, as our students experience greater needs in the wake of the pandemic, we’re organizing to win strong contracts that deliver the schools, libraries, and colleges our communities deserve. We’re fighting for the services and staffing our students need, and the strong benefits and workplace protections AFTMA members rely on. And we’re standing up to intolerance – working to protect our communities from extremists who want to ban books, restrict free speech, and reverse societal progress on racial and gender equality and LGBTQ rights.
On May 4, convention delegates from across the state will celebrate our victories, discuss the battles we face, and be inspired to act. We’ll welcome new members of our union, celebrate new affinity groups, hear about important initiatives, and further develop our collective strength as educators and organizers.
2024 Step Up For Colleen 5k Walk/Run
The friends and family of Colleen Ritzer created this 5K Walk/Run to celebrate Colleen’s life and her commitment to helping and inspiring others. Through the Step Up for Colleen Walk/Run, organizers and participants celebrate Colleen and the values by which she lived. The net proceeds benefit the Colleen E. Ritzer Memorial Fund, Inc. which benefits charitable activities honoring Colleen’s legacy including the Colleen E. Ritzer Memorial Scholarship. The Scholarship was established by Colleen’s family to benefit graduating high school seniors, who are Andover and Danvers residents, who demonstrate a passion for teaching, academic excellence and love of family and who will pursue a degree in education.
The financial professionals of Teacher Retirement Solutions (TRS) have partnered with AFT Massachusetts and specialize in providing independent financial guidance, strategies and solutions to educators, school employees, librarians and their families throughout New England. Join TRS’ John Gregorio, a Certified Financial Planner, on May 7, 2024 via Zoom for a comprehensive workshop for prospective retirees. The Massachusetts' public employee retirement formula, Social Security and living in retirement will be among the topics discussed. An automated email with the details of the Zoom meeting will be sent to members that complete the form linked here.
What: Retirement Planning Workshop for AFT Members
Who: Members of AFT Massachusetts
Where: Online via Zoom
When: May 7, 2024 from 6 to 8 pm
Student Debt Clinics for AFT Members
Questions about student debt? AFT is hosting virtual student debt clinics on May 14 and 29, 2024 ET to help our members navigate their debt. Learn more about PSLF and how you can save with Summer.
To win for all of the students, families, educators, and public schools and colleges - we must continue to build collective power and sustain the movement! This event, hosted by the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, is a convening is a space for parents/caregivers, educators, students, and community activists to come together to:
share ideas, skills, lessons, strategy and inspiration;
learn how to build power and sustain our work for transformative change;
strengthen relationships to advance the movement; and,
amplify the local and state K-12 and higher education issues that impact our students and communities.
Please register herefor the Saturday, May 18th convening at Worcester Technical High School! There is space for 150 attendees, so register to secure your spot!
Join Our New Paraprofessional Committee!
Calling all paraprofessionals! We're creating a new, dedicated space for PSRP members to meet on a regular basis to share stories, strategies, successes, and failures. With Senator Ed Markey's PSRP Bill of Rights, PSRPs across the country have the tools to fight for fair wages, health care, appropriate training & supplies, and secure their voice in making decisions in their locals. Paras are winning strong contracts across the state through innovative organizing and bargaining strategies. Now is the perfect time to come together to teach and learn from each other. We here at AFT MA have committed to created a space for our PSRP's to meet to discuss these important topics and more. SIGN UP HERE ->
Summer Organizing Institute is Back!
Join AFT Massachusetts and the Boston Teachers Union for our annual Summer Organizing Institute. Whether you are a brand new building rep or activist learning the basic building blocks of organizing or a seasoned union leader looking to bargaining your strongest contract ever, these two days are for you.
Build effective building rep skills, effective bargaining, and effective organizing skills.
This year we will focus on core building rep skills like signing up new members into our unions, knowing our rights, and contracts. We will also have opportunities for bargaining committees, leaders, and activists to dig into developing contract campaigns and having organizing conversations.
Sign up here to RSVP (and let us know what topics you’re most interested in – we want to make this helpful for YOU)!
SAVE THE DATE: Fall Conference
Our Fall member conference is on Saturday, October 5th this year. Please save the date in your calendar, and then let us know what sessions and trainings you'd most like to see!We want to gear the content around what is most helpful for YOU, our members.
