News

AFT President Randi Weingarten welcomed at schools in Lowell and Lawrence by union leaders, educators, students, and local officials!

AFT Massachusetts hosted AFT President Randi Weingarten’s trip to the Merrimack Valley earlier this month, where local leaders and educators highlighted two key priorities of the state federation: community schools and career and technical education.

Through various coalitions and advocacy campaigns, the AFT Massachusetts has been strong proponents for investing in and expanding opportunity for community schools and CTE pathways. The day included on-site discussions with local and national leaders about the unique contributions each school makes to the region and the role they play in lifting up the families and communities they serve.

Advocates and community leaders are sounding the alarm in Lynnfield, where residents are at risk of seeing the Lynnfield Public Library (LPL) stripped of critical programming, staff, and hours, while losing access to the entire Massachusetts network of library materials and resources. 

“Each day, nearly 400 residents walk through our doors at the Lynnfield Public Library knowing that we are there to help and provide all Lynnfield residents with equal access to educational, informational, cultural, and recreational opportunities and services.” said Patricia Kelly, who has worked at LPL for nearly three decades and is currently serving as LPL’s Head of Reference and the President of the Massachusetts Library Staff Association. “Whether it be through creating community spaces to bring people together, connecting residents with outside cultures and histories, or helping people navigate critical services through our ever-expanding digital world, we’ve worked hard to ensure the library serves as a cornerstone of the Lynnfield community.” 

On April 3, 2025, President Tang testified before the Joint Committee on Ways and Means on prioritizing impactful education investments as the state determines how it will spend surplus Fair Share Amendment revenue.

Massachusetts has a unique opportunity to use these funds to protect our kids from some of the damage being inflicted by the federal administration’s ongoing cuts to education funding, while also supporting needed investments in community schools, preschool access, school staffing, and more.  

We’re proud to be part of the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition that helped make these funds possible, and to use this opportunity to advocate for the investments our districts need to better provide a quality, accessible public education to all our students.

The shocking decision of the Department to move the KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School’s expansion plan forward to the Board for a vote completely disregards the very clear, long-standing state regulations governing charter school expansion.

Not only will this have grave implications for our students, families, and schools in Lynn, it sets a very dangerous precedent going forward.

In order for their plan to be considered, KIPP Academy must meet the threshold of a proven provider with proficiency rates similar to state averages for a three year period, across all grades. According to the Department’s own data, KIPP not only does not meet these requirements, proficiency among KIPP students is significantly lower than state averages, especially in English Language Arts and Science. 

AFT Leading the Charge for Access to R+ (Teachers Alternative Retirement Plan)

For decades, AFT Massachusetts and member locals - including the Boston Teachers Union – have helped members navigate their benefits systems, which can be complex.  Whether it be through advocacy, education, or resources, the AFT Massachusetts has been on the frontline of an issue impacting thousands of teachers across the Commonwealth – the Massachusetts Teachers Alternative Retirement Plan, or Retirement Plus.

After working on this for years, we were thrilled when the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation we had been advocating for at the end of last session. Unfortunately, it was not taken up by the Senate in time.

We will be kicking off our advocacy for this legislative session with a Retirement Plus Lobby Day on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. The lobby day is in partnership with the BTU, MTA and the R+ Committee, and will provide members an opportunity to speak directly with legislators about the importance of legislation providing a Second Chance at Retirement Plus.

For decades, the AFT Massachusetts and member locals - including the Boston Teachers Union – have helped members navigate their benefits systems, which can be complex. Whether it be through advocacy, education, or resources, the AFT Massachusetts has been on the frontline of an issue impacting thousands of teachers across the Commonwealth – the Massachusetts Teachers Alternative Retirement Plan, or Retirement Plus.

In 2001, Massachusetts introduced Teachers' Alternate Retirement Plan (TARP) or Retirement Plus, an enhanced retirement option for teachers, school nurses, related service providers and other educators with a deduction rate of 11%. All educators hired after July 1, 2001 were automatically enrolled in the new program, but current educators had only 6 months to opt in. A complicated process and confusing branding meant that many educators didn’t properly enroll, or thought they were enrolled when they really weren’t.

We wholeheartedly condemn President Trump's agenda and the xenophobic and racist rhetoric being used to stoke fear and division throughout our nation.

As educators, we are focused on justice and equal opportunities for all students. We know firsthand that children cannot learn if they don't feel safe. These threats take an emotional, psychological, and physical toll on our children and their families. If continued, they will have a chilling effect on our schools and communities.

All children have a right to an education, no matter their immigration status. That right is protected by the U.S. Constitution and federal law prohibits anyone from attempting to restrict a child's access to that education. Educators across the state and nation are ready to stand up and defend the rights and safety of their students.

Any freeze on federal funding our schools rely on will likely have catastrophic impacts on our ability to provide a quality public education to all. The threat alone has already created further instability and uncertainty for our schools, our students, and their families. 

Programs across all levels of education will be impacted – from those that ensure homeless students have access to school to special education services to work-study programs for low-income college students. Beyond programming, there are grant-funded jobs on the line. These jobs in pre-k through higher education are critical for local working families – including AFT Massachusetts members – and will vanish when the funds do.