Labor Day is just around the corner and the 2025-2026 school year is here. While summer always feels too short, we look forward to what is coming our way this fall, particularly Boston’s very first Labor Day Parade. We hope to see many of you there! For those returning to schools, everyone here at AFT Massachusetts hopes you have a productive year with the supportive work environments you deserve. Our summer here at AFTMA we have been on the MOVE! Mobilizing our members, organizing for strong contracts, getting ready to vote and empowering our communities to fight for the changes they would like to see. We have also been all over the state, sharing out the new AFT M.O.V.E. curriculum. As the summer days began to dwindle, many of our locals spent these last weeks in celebration – with a number of tentative agreements and ratifications! We are always proud to partner with our AFT MA locals to provide additional support as they fight to get the strongest contract for our union members. Congratulations to our locals who have recently secured contract wins in negotiations: Northshore Education Consortium Employee Federation – secured a new three-year contract for its teachers and instructional aides that includes strong wage increases, paid parental leave, and increases to stipends and reimbursements Fall River Federation of Paraprofessionals – ratified a new contract that provides steady wage increases along with better benefits, including four weeks of paid parental leave, expanding bereavement leave, and establishing a mentorship program to ensure new paras are able to have the tools and guidance they need to be successful New Bedford Federation of Paraprofessionals – negotiated a three-year contract giving paras better wages along with ratification/retention bonuses before their previous contract expired – something that hasn’t happened in recent history! Peabody Federation of Teachers – the Peabody School Committee approved PFT’s ratified contract earlier this week, which includes solid wage increases, access to paid parental leave, and increased longevity, all while ensuring CTE and pre-kindergarten teachers are covered by the contract and benefits
Negotiations continue in Billerica, Lawrence, and North Attleboro. While we continue to see signs of progress in these negotiations, these locals are looking toward next steps, including walk-ins, community forums, and engaging other unions serving the community for additional support. These locals are doing a tremendous job waging effective contract campaigns that engage members and maximize their power to negotiate the strongest possible contracts—we love to see it! In August we also hosted our annual Summer Organizing Institute in partnership with the Boston Teachers Union. Over the course of two days, we covered everything from the rights and roles of building reps to how to support immigrant families (including both students and our own members) during these unprecedented times - and everything in between. We had members not only from across the state, but from across New England - with affiliates from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont joining us. It’s always a wonderful way to bring our locals together and we’re proud to say this year was our biggest one yet! Just like we will never stop advocating for our members, we are also committed to being strong advocates for our students, communities, and union siblings. We were proud to stand with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Senator Ed Markey, Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, and leaders from across the community in support of the immigrants who make Boston and the Commonwealth a better and stronger place. Our labor movement is made up of thousands of union immigrants and our economy is stronger because of the contributions of immigrants throughout our history, beginning with predominantly Irish and Italians who first settled on our shores. Unfortunately, Boston and 30 other cities are having their federal funding threatened-–funding for our schools, public services and more– because they refuse to cave to federal pressure to aid harmful ICE deportation efforts. These cities are already following the law, but many immigrants–including ones with lawful status and ones with work authorizations, are being targeted and attacked. In the labor movement, we know an injury to one is an injury to all. That’s why we’ll continue to uplift our workers, neighbors, and immigrant communities while defending them from unlawful or discriminatory policies. We also joined Texas Democrats on the State House steps earlier this month to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, standing with the Democratic Senators who fled the Lone Star State in an attempt to stop an illegal and antidemocratic attempt to redraw their congressional districts. While ultimately the effort was not successful, it drew attention to the undemocratic and unprecedented actions that are undermining our democracy. Whether it’s joining national partners, hosting MOVE workshops with local partners like the North Shore Labor Council and the North Attleboro Federation of Teachers, or providing opportunities to members to strengthen their skills through OSHA-10 and Street Medic Trainings, AFT Massachusetts has spent the summer mobilizing - but our work is not done. Especially with September 1 right around the corner.
We’re proud to partner with our union siblings at the Greater Boston Labor Council, the MA AFL-CIO, and more for Boston’s first ever Labor Day Parade! Unions and working families across the country are facing unprecedented threats—but in the labor movement we know that the best antidote to these attacks is SOLIDARITY. This year’s theme is “Workers over Billionaires” and celebrates both what unions have won while highlighting what we are still fighting for–including the freedom, fairness and security all workers deserve. So please, sign up today and make a plan to join us this Monday morning for Boston’s Labor Day Parade!
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Make a plan to march with AFT MA in Boston’s first Labor Day Parade! This Monday, we’re gathering 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 get all the details you’ll need to join us! Calling all Pre-Service & Early Career Teachers! AFT is collaborating with the STEMM Opportunity Alliance and Beyond100K to collect input and insights from pre-service and early career teachers in all pathways. Your voices will help shape more inclusive and effective solutions to supporting retention and recruitment of PreK-12 educators, particularly STEM teachers. Those interested will be contacted for a 10-15 minute interview to share their experiences, challenges, and hopes for the future of education. Sign up here to participate. Student & Family Resource: New Family Immigration Emergency Checklist As immigration enforcement actions continue to impact our students, patients, and the communities we serve, AFT has developed a new checklist to help educators, school support staff, and healthcare professionals support families. Having a Family Immigration Emergency Plan in place can help reduce stress, protect loved ones, ensure that children and family responsibilities are cared for, and can make the difference in keeping someone from being deported. See tailored Family Immigration Emergency Checklists below: |
AFT Massachusetts In The News
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Monday, September 1: Boston’s First Labor Day Parade! Sign up today! 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! Join the AFT Massachusetts, MA AFL-CIO, the Greater Boston Labor Council, and unionists from across Massachusetts in unity this Monday, September 1 for the city’s first-ever Labor Day Parade! Too many of our union siblings are under attack. But if unions know one thing, it’s this: we are strongest together. Sign up here and make a plan to meet us in Boston this Labor Day! The parade kicks-off at 9:30 a.m. and should last around 3 hours – so fear not—there will still be time to make it to your friend’s cookout after! All are welcome! Sunday, September 7: Massachusetts Building Trades Recovery Council’s Second Annual Walk for Wellness! This family-friendly event brings together union members from all industries and elected leaders to celebrate and bring awareness to the critical work being done to support mental health and substance use recovery in the building trades. These programs have become a national model for peer-led support—and this is a great opportunity to learn how to bring similar programs to your own union or organization. Registration not required, walkers are asked to meet at the Norfolk County Sheriff Office Hope Center (2015 Washington Street, Braintree) at 10 am. Learn more! Wednesday, September 24: The AFT and the Democracy Security Project presents Cyber Safety and Security Training! Designed to help AFT leaders and members increase their security awareness regarding cyber and online threats, this training will teach attendees how to respond to digital crises and actively protect their personal information online. The training will provide specific tools and tips to effectively defend against digital threats as well as provide action steps to increase your privacy, both on and offline. Register today! Monday, October 6: Retirement Planning Workshop for Public Sector AFT Members All public sector members are invited to join the AFT Massachusetts for a virtual retirement planning workshop on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 5 pm! AFT Massachusetts has partnered with Teacher Retirement Solutions (TRS), which specializes in providing independent financial guidance, strategies and solutions to educators, school employees, librarians, and their families throughout New England, to provide prospective retirees with this comprehensive workshop. TRS’ Certified Financial Planner John Gregorio and AFT Massachusetts Secretary-Treasurer Brant Duncan will cover a variety of topics, including the Massachusetts' public employee retirement formula, Social Security, and living in retirement. Register today! October 10-12: AFT Civil, Human and Women's Rights Conference With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, AFT recognizes this moment as the first major national inflection point to turn the tide on policy, reclaim public institutions, and push back against the growing infrastructure of repression. This conference will equip AFT locals with the tools to meet that moment head-on—with strategy, solidarity, and a commitment to long-term power-building. Participants will engage through three core training tracks: Communications Training, disrupting disinformation and reclaiming public narrative, by use of social media tools; Political Training, Advancing democracy at the ballot box and building durable civic power; and MOVE (Mobilize. Organize. Vote. Empower.) Training, for grassroots resistance, cross-sector coalition-building, and union-based movement work. Learn more and register here to join. Wednesday, October 22: North Shore Protect Our Care Town Hall
Join AFT Massachusetts, the North Shore Labor Council, and Raise Up Massachusetts for the North Shore Protect Our Care Town Hall! Learn more about how Massachusetts can protect residents from devastating federal cuts to healthcare, food assistance, and other critical services. Friends, family, and community members welcome. Register here to join us on 10/22! Not on the North Shore? Find your local Protect Our Care town hall here. Saturday, November 15: SAVE THE DATE: 2025 Fall Conference! Join us on November 15th for this year's annual Fall Conference. We will have workshops focusing on leadership development and building a stronger local. This conference is open to all members. Local leadership and building reps in particular are encouraged to attend, as well as anyone looking to grow their union skills! |
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