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After labor leaders across the nation have fought for decades to eliminate two provisions that unfairly penalize thousands of public sector retirees, including many in Massachusetts, President Joseph Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law on January 5. The Act eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provisions of the Social Security law – which both unfairly penalize thousands of public sector retirees in Massachusetts, including school teachers.

“No one who pays into the Social Security system should see the benefits they’ve earned cut or eliminated – especially those who dedicated their careers to public service,” said American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang, who was present at the bill signing . “In addition to fair wages, reasonable benefits and safe working conditions, everyone deserves a secure and dignified retirement and we are pleased to say that after years of advocacy, our collective efforts paid off to ensure all workers have access to these benefits.”

On December 21, 2024, the U.S. Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provisions of the Social Security law – which both unfairly penalize thousands of public sector retirees in Massachusetts, including school teachers. 

“No one who pays into the Social Security system should see the benefits they’ve earned cut or eliminated – especially those who dedicated their careers to public service,” said American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “In addition to fair wages, reasonable benefits and safe working conditions, everyone deserves a secure and dignified retirement and we are pleased to say that after years of advocacy, our collective efforts paid off to ensure all workers have access to these benefits.” 

“The consequences of this agreement will be transformative, providing greater stability and support for our educators and our students. This is a win for the entire Chelsea community, and we couldn’t have done it without the sustained organizing and solidarity of educators, families, and community members,” said CTU President Kathryn Anderson.

The agreement includes competitive wage increases for all educators, including the largest wage increase for paraprofessionals that the district has ever seen. Paraprofessionals currently receiving $17.96 an hour will see a 62 percent pay increase over the course of the three-year contract, up to $29.05 per hour. Clerks will see a 31 percent increase over the life of the contract – going from $27.99 to $36.61 per hour.

It also includes the first district-paid parental leave benefit (three weeks the first year of the contract and then six weeks in subsequent years), as well as up to 12 weeks paid leave for members to care for ill family members and up to 35 days from the sick bank.

We need your help to get House Bill 5136 An Act Relative to Benefits for Teachers over the finish line this year!! H.5136 was passed by the House on Thursday, December 11 and combines three important bills that we’ve spent years advocating for - H.2483, An Act Relative to teacher retirement education (Rep. Consalvo), H.2630, An Act relative to benefits for teachers (Rep. Peisch), and S.1702, An Act relative to teacher retirement education (Sen. Miranda).

This bill would allow current non-TARP educators to opt into the enhanced TARP retirement benefits that current employees receive, by paying the difference between what they’ve paid in deductions since 2001 and what they would have paid if they had opted in at the time plus interest. This “make-up amount” could be paid in either a payment plan or in one lump-sum payment. The legislation would require modest additional state funding of teacher retirement benefits, and would result in substantial savings to local school districts through the retirement of R+ educators and the hiring of new teachers at significantly lower salaries.

At the November 19, 2024 meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), city and education leaders from Lynn testified in opposition to KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School’s latest attempt to expand in the city – which would siphon off another $24 million each year from Lynn Public Schools (LPS). 

“If this expansion effort is allowed, it would cause irrevocable damage to Lynn’s public schools, which educate all children. At the end of the day, Lynn Public School students and KIPP students are both students of Lynn and should not be pitted against one another,” said President O’Neil, who has been a teacher in the Lynn Public Schools for 32 years. “Unfortunately, we’ve been put in a position where we have to combat false and divisive narratives from those supporting this effort at a time when we should all be focused on supporting our students and getting back to pre-pandemic learning levels.”

The economic development bill passed by the Massachusetts Legislature includes important steps to promote educator diversity throughout the Commonwealth, something the AFT Massachusetts has been working on for years. Many of these proposals stem from the Educator Diversity Act, important legislation championed by the AFT Massachusetts and other education and community advocates since it was first introduced in 2021. 

“Research has shown time and time again that all students benefit from a diverse educator workforce – one that accurately reflects the wonderful diversity of our communities. We’ve spent years advocating for ways to increase diversity among our educators and we look forward to seeing our students benefit from the provisions included in this bill,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “Today, the Legislature made an important commitment to increasing the number of diverse teachers in every district of the Commonwealth while also providing the workplace conditions to ensure their success, job satisfaction, and retention.”

“Last night’s vote (Tuesday, November 12, 2024) is a critical step forward to correct two injustices millions of retired public sector workers across the country currently face, including public school retirees throughout the Commonwealth.

“Both of these provisions disproportionately impact low-income retirees - including tens of thousands in Massachusetts alone. It's set up so public school teachers and paraprofessionals end up being penalized for working a second or third job in the private sector, which many have to do to get by.  

"Not only do these penalties hurt the economic security of those who have dedicated their lives to serving their communities,  but they disenfranchise many from becoming educators as a second career –  at a time when we’re facing a national teacher shortage."

“The AFT Massachusetts stands in solidarity with the teachers of Beverly, Gloucester and Marblehead in achieving fair contracts and calls on school administrators to immediately negotiate contracts that are good for students and fair to the teachers and paraprofessionals serving these schools.

"The families in these communities have a right to expect the education and learning needs of their children will be addressed in the public schools. The committed educators in Beverly, Gloucester and Marblehead are fighting for their students by demanding progress at the bargaining table on essential classroom issues." 

“Voters in Massachusetts gave students across the Commonwealth a brighter and stronger future. Massachusetts residents know that true learning is about much more than can be measured by a single standardized test and have now given teachers the ability to create safer and stronger learning environments where setting and meeting high standards is embedded in every aspect of a school’s curriculum.

“This is an important step toward addressing the systemic opportunity gaps that are exacerbated by decades of over reliance on a one-size-fits-all standardized test.”

“It is hard to think of a stronger advocate for educators, public schools, and the lives of students across the Commonwealth than Senator Warren.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Senator on her agenda for public education, racial and social justice, and in building an economy that works for all by making it easier for people to join a union and by tackling our nation’s crippling student debt crisis.

“Senator Warren has stood with us every step of the way in our ongoing efforts to strengthen public education for all, particularly for the students and communities with the greatest needs. We are excited to see what she will accomplish over her next term.”