A Message from Jessica Tang

From winning contract victories and fighting for full school funding, to advocating for educator diversity and the end of state receiverships on Beacon Hill, this has been a busy month for AFT Massachusetts.

It was empowering to meet so many of our union’s members this month, whether it was at rallies in Chelsea and Boston, during lobby days in the State House, reading to students in Springfield, during the first-ever State-Wide Community Schools Summit, or marching with the BTU in the Boston Pride for the People Parade.

As we celebrated Juneteenth last Wednesday, I was excited to see how many educators are incorporating lessons about the contributions of Black Americans to our national story in their curriculums. And as our union’s first openly queer President, it was wonderful to celebrate Pride Month with our members, and celebrate Massachusetts’ leading role as a LGBTQ+ affirming state.

I also had a blast celebrating the Celtics’ Championship victory this month – this team’s total dedication to teamwork is an inspiration for all of us. Go Celtics!

Read on for updates on several of our union’s activities and priorities this month.

Contract campaigns Congratulations to the Springfield paraprofessionals and the Nashoba Valley Technical High School teachers on reaching tentative agreements with significant pay increases! Several other AFTMA locals are engaged in high-profile contract campaigns, including Salem, Fall River, Boston, and Chelsea. The Chelsea Teachers Union, Boston Teachers Union, and Fall River Federation of Paraprofessionals all held large rallies this month as they seek strong contracts, including shared priorities like significantly better pay for paraprofessionals.

Community Schools Summit Dozens of educators and community members from around the state gathered in Boston this month for Massachusetts’ first State-wide Community Schools Summit! As a national, evidence-based strategy for school transformation, Community Schools is an equity strategy that unites families, students, educators, administration and community partners and resources on a whole-child, whole-family approach to improving academic and social-emotional outcomes. At the summit, we heard about Chicago’s journey of joint educator-community advocacy to win and implement Community Schools, and discussed strategies to build more community schools in Massachusetts.

Beacon Hill update We joined Latinos for Education and numerous other organizations on Beacon Hill on June 11 for Educator Diversity Advocacy Day, rallying on the State House Steps and speaking to legislators about our support for the Educator Diversity Act, comprehensive legislation that would address some of the biggest barriers faced by current and future educators of color, including creating alternative pathways to professional licensure, establishing paid teacher apprenticeships, and elevating the voices of educators of color through local advisory councils. Thank you to all the AFT members who joined the advocacy day!

We also continue to advocate for the ‘R+’ bill that would give more educators access to enhanced Teachers' Alternate Retirement Plan (TARP) benefits, for the end to all state receiverships and support for districts exiting receivership, and for increased state education aid to account for the inflation we’ve experienced in recent years that wasn’t reimbursed by the state’s school funding formula. New research from MassBudget shows exactly how much each district in the state is losing as a result of a glitch in the Chapter 70 funding formula – and we’re joining Superintendents, School Committees, and education justice advocates across the state to advocate for a solution.

Advocacy Updates Congratulations to the educators and staff at the Community Charter School of Cambridge (CCSC), who announced this month that they are forming a union with the AFT Massachusetts! We are thrilled to support their organizing for better working and learning conditions.

Amesbury educators have been fighting valiantly for months against severe school budget cuts being imposed by the Mayor, which would have led to layoffs, larger class sizes, and increased caseloads. Despite the city’s School Committee and several Councilors proposing budget alternatives with fewer cuts, the Council passed a final budget that included all of the Mayor’s proposed cuts. We were disappointed by Amesbury leadership’s unwillingness to find the resources in city coffers to avoid these devastating layoffs. But thanks to our pressure and advocacy, in a last second effort, the school finance manager found over $300,000 in an energy saving line item to save nearly all of the positions. Credit to AFT Amesbury for their persistence in a tough fight to stop these cuts.

The ballot question that would end the use of the MCAS as a graduation requirement is headed towards the ballot, as organizers submitted a final set of signatures this month. Stay tuned for updates on how you can get involved and help organize your neighbors to vote “Yes!”

Organizing Opportunities Join AFT Massachusetts and the Boston Teachers Union for our annual Summer Organizing Institute on August 14 and 15. 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.

In addition, our AFT Member Organizing Institute, which trains union members to work as part-time member organizers on issues important to their local school community, is preparing to kick off a new cohort on Saturday, August 24. Since 2018, the program has trained dozens of AFTMA Member Organizers, and their subsequent work has been vital to their local unions and our statewide federation. Contact your local union president if you are interested and would like to apply.

Finally, the November election will feature several important local races, including legislative contests and ballot questions. In August, AFTMA will be hiring union members to work as paid Political Member Organizers to assist in energizing, educating and engaging members across Massachusetts and beyond into supporting AFT MA endorsed candidates and ballot questions. Members will be paid $25/hour for up to 10 hours a week, and engage in member outreach, door knocking, phone banking, and other activities. Learn more here and apply by August 16!

Educators at Community Charter School of Cambridge Vote to Form Union

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.” READ MORE.

Least-Qualified, Politically-Connected Candidate Chosen as Lawrence’s Next Superintendent

“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." READ MORE.

Join Massachusetts Retirees United, AFT Local 8019R

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. READ MORE.

Student Debt Clinics for AFT Members

Questions about student debt? AFT is hosting virtual student debt clinics on July 9 and 31, 2024 ET to help our members navigate their debt. Learn more about PSLF and how you can save with Summer.

➡️ Register: https://cvent.me/17XZka

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.

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.

News from AFT Massachusetts and President Jessica Tang - June 2024