July has been a month full of advocacy – from our local school committees to the worker solidarity actions in LA , and from the Massachusetts State House to the halls of Congress in DC. Leading into July, AFT MA was a strong presence at the 18th annual biennial convention of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance in Los Angeles. I co-led two workshops and introduced two special guests: former Secretaries of Labor Marty Walsh and Julie Su. It is also with great pride that we announce that our very own Mikayla Vu was elected President! Learn more about APALA and join here. Throughout this busy month, AFT Massachusetts leaders, members, and allies showed up at the Massachusetts State House to testify on behalf of important legislative priorities this session including: our Retirement Plus bill, the Attorney General’s STUDY Act, legislation to extend PFML to educators and municipal employees, the Protect LABOR Act, legislation to restore collective bargaining rights to teachers in Level 4 and 5 schools/districts, expanding access to tuition free education opportunities to educators and paraprofessionals, the Freedom to Read bill, and more. We launched a new series to help our locals and our communities build the knowledge and skills necessary to protect our members, the rights of working families, and the needs of those we serve. Over 100 members and allies attended one of our Mobilize, Organize, Vote, and Empower (MOVE) Workshops this month, where they heard from AFT leaders and national staff on how to strengthen our democracy and build power during these uncertain times. These workshops are a great way to learn more about current threats and what they mean to our daily lives and get some extra training on ways to activate as we fight to safeguard our rights, benefits, funding, schools, and communities. If you’re interested in bringing one to your community, please let us know! Last week, AFT MA was a proud presence at the AFT’s TEACH 2025 Conference in Washington D.C. We are facing unprecedented threats not just to public education, but to the very fabric of our democracy and this year’s conference offered us an opportunity to train and strategize on ways to bring about a bold vision for our public schools and a better life for working people. I was proud to co-lead multiple MOVE sessions for members of state feds and locals across the nation. Boston Teachers Union President Erik Berg was on hand as a panelist for an important session on collective bargaining and several other members lead sessions including AFT Amesbury teacher Tia Costello, Paul Tritter, Mark Lonergan, and Kadian Simmonds. And we had many locals in attendance including: Amesbury Federation of Teachers, Boston Teachers Union, Chelsea Teachers Union, Lawrence Teachers Union, and the United Teachers of Lowell. For more on the sessions and discussions at this year’s conference check out the AFT’s TEACH 2025 Page. As part of TEACH 2025, AFT MA members went to Congress to lobby leaders on key priorities. We met with Senator Ed Markey on the day he was introducing important legislation to establish a national minimum wage for paraprofessionals! Our full day of advocacy included some time with Senator Bernie Sanders, who filed a bill calling for a teacher minimum wage, and an inspiring visit with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley! Here at home, we are gearing up for the next big organizing event for our members: the Summer Organizing Institute, which serves as our union’s deep organizing space to build the skills we need to win in the classroom and beyond for our members, students, and families. From bargaining strong contracts, building strong school-site union structures, and taking our movement to the streets in this critical time— we must be ready. Whether you are a brand new building rep or or a seasoned union leader looking to secure the strongest contract possible for your members, these two days are for you! Check out our draft agenda and RSVP today!
Finally, it’s no secret that the rights of workers and unions are under assault at the federal level and within the private sector. Our union siblings need you to join them on the picket lines! Please take time to grab a union t-shirt and join the Teamsters Local 25 Republic Services workers at one of their many picket lines and UNITE HERE Local 26 Aramark workers at their Fenway Park picket line to support their fight for the fair wages, benefits, and protections they deserve. And remember--if you’re going to a game at Fenway, bring your own food! Local 26 is encouraging fans to still come to games, but asking the public not to cross their picket line by buying food inside the park. Solidarity forever!
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Take Action: Upcoming Events: |
Strengthen your organizing muscles at the Summer Organizing Institute! Whether you are a brand new building rep or or a seasoned union leader looking to bargaining your strongest contract ever, these two days are for you. Join AFT MA leaders and members from across the Commonwealth for our two-day Summer Organizing Institute, featuring sessions on contract negotiating, how to set up your school site union meeting/faculty senate, utilizing digital organizing & social media, movement mobilization, race & labor, and more! Check out our draft agenda and RSVP today! Make a plan to march with AFT MA in Boston’s first Labor Day Parade! On Monday, September 1st, at 9:30am we’ll gather in solidarity with unionists from across MA for the city’s first Labor Day parade. Labor Day 2025 is shaping up to be the largest labor action in our nation’s history—and we need YOU to be a part of it! Sign up to stay informed on all the details you’ll need to join us. |
AFT Massachusetts In The News
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July has been filled with excitement for our locals – from hosting union trainings throughout the region, to reaching contract negotiations, to ushering in new local leadership in Lynn, Peabody, and New Bedford. We are thrilled to say that an agreement has been reached in Peabody for the 550 members represented by the Peabody Federation of Teachers (unit A). Unfortunately, we’re making very little progress in Lawrence. The Lawrence Teachers Union continues to negotiate in good faith with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and remain committed to fighting for the fair contract their members deserve and the students of Lawrence need. We will continue to provide any support they need and stand in solidarity with them during these difficult negotiations. At AFT Massachusetts, we welcomed our newest staffer and political organizer, Estefania (Tefa) Galvis. Tefa will work closely with locals to enhance electoral programs, engage in ballot overrides, and help build out our statewide political program – both in this fall’s municipal elections and in advance of our state and national elections in 2026. Please join us in welcoming Tefa! |
Wednesday, August 13 & Thursday, August 14: AFT & BTU Summer Organizing Institute | Meeting the Moment, Building the Movement This annual event serves as our union’s deep organizing space to build the skills we need to win for our members, students, and families – in the classroom and beyond. From bargaining strong contracts, building strong school-site union structures and taking our movement to the streets in this critical time— we must be ready. Whether you are a brand new building rep or or a seasoned union leader looking to bargaining your strongest contract ever, these two days are for you: August 13-14th (9-2:30 pm) at the Boston Teachers Union. Check out our draft agenda and RSVP today! Thursday, August 21 & Friday August 22: AFT Massachusetts OSHA-10 The AFT's OSHA-10 class will enable participants to promote workplace safety and health and make workers more knowledgeable about workplace hazards and their rights under the law. Participants will receive an OSHA 10-hour course completion card issued by OSHA at the end of the training. Protect yourself and your students from harmful school conditions! You must complete all ten hours across both days of training to receive certification. Sign up here to join! Friday, August 22: AFT Massachusetts Street Medic Training Want to learn how to serve as a street medic? This hands-on workshop equips activists, organizers, and street medics with essential skills to provide emergency medical care in high-stress environments. It covers how you can assist participants in a medical emergency, first Aid for minor protest injuries, triage and patient assessment under challenging conditions, and more! Sign up today to join! Monday, September 1: Boston’s First Labor Day Parade! Join AFT Massachusetts and Greater Boston Labor Council to take part in what we hope to be the nation’sMA’s largest ever labor demonstration! Save the date! On Monday morning, September 1st, AFT Massachusetts, Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the Greater Boston Labor Council, and unionists from across Massachusetts will unite in Boston for the city’s first-ever Labor Day Parade! Labor Day 2025 is shaping up to be the country’s largest nationwide Labor Day of action ever—and we need you to be a part of it! Too many of our union siblings are under attack: federal workers have been stripped of their collective bargaining rights and automatic dues deductions, we’ve seen mass layoffs, the NLRB has been gutted, and more. But if unions know one thing, it’s this: we are strongest together. Save the date and plan to meet us in Boston this Labor Day! More details to come. |
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