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Scarlett Ahmed has started counting the number of people sleeping outside the Queens Career Center in New York City when she arrives at work in the morning.

“It was already bad,” she said. “But this? This will just add to it.”

Since June, the Berklee Faculty Union, AFT Local 4412 has diligently negotiated a new, three-year contract with better pay and expanded opportunities for its members.

“In essence, this contract is giving faculty the fair pay and support they need so they can focus on providing their students with the educational opportunities and mentoring they deserve,” said Berklee Faculty Union President William Silvio.

In addition, the BFU’s new contract includes the largest-ever conversion of part-time positions to full-time, with 13 positions converting annually, resulting in 39 full-time positions over the course of the contract.

“Our members made it clear they wanted this agreement to balance their own well-being with that of our students and community. It’s no surprise that students from around the world come here to study with such a remarkable group,” said Berklee Faculty Union Secretary-Treasurer Andrew Shryock. 

“We are proud of our work to secure this new contract, which takes into account the high needs of our students and ensures our educators receive the pay, benefits, and respect that not only reflects the caliber of their work, but is comparable to those offered in sending districts,” said NECEF President Babz Carrapichano. “Consistency and reliability are huge factors in any child’s ability to learn, but especially so for the high-needs students we serve. This contract will reduce turnover and make sure that when there are openings, we can attract the highly-skilled educators our students need.”

"Prior to the new contract, our department was struggling to maintain staffing, as we were not even close to matching what was being offered for positions that are in high demand, but with a national shortage of qualified people," said Mollie Maxwell, a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, who also served as a member of the bargaining committee. "The contract we secured has made a clear impact, as we are now able to work on expanding our staff to serve the needs of the many students with visual impairments across our own programs, as well as our member communities. This will make all the difference for the districts we serve and their educational teams, and allow students to access the services they so desperately need and deserve!"

Needless to say, it’s a busy time, and there’s a lot going on. Many AFT Massachusetts locals are in active bargaining, working to build the skills and power they need to win big for members as cities and towns grapple with the consequences of losing millions in federal dollars for public education. Federal policy changes are causing real harm for our students, our members, and institutions—both public and private.

We’ve got a plan—but it’s going to take all of us acting in solidarity.

That’s why we need you to join us for our virtual Fall Town Hall on Thursday, October 16th at 5:15pm! We’ll cover the work being done here and nationwide and launch some exciting events and resources we’ve built to help you and your local fight for a better future.

Over the summer, the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts was on hand as Governor Maura Healey announced a new, multi-faceted approach to support the state’s innovation economy and the work being done at institutions of higher education across the Commonwealth.

The Discovery, Research, Innovation for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) Initiative proposes significant state investment as a way to leverage private and institutional resources to retain world-class talent, preserve jobs and protect the engines of Massachusetts’ innovation economy. 

"Our state colleges and universities have a transformational impact, from providing opportunities for economic mobility through a world-class education to serving as regional economic engines providing good jobs to over 50,000 people across the state to leading crucial research and development responsible for improving lives on a global scale,” said President Tang. “The actions from the White House have put all of that in jeopardy. Jobs are being lost. A college degree is moving even more out of reach for thousands of students. The research and free-flowing exchange of ideas and knowledge being stifled will have irreparable consequences for generations to come. We applaud Governor Healey for taking some proactive steps to support our public and private institutions of higher education and minimize some of the damage we can expect here in Massachusetts.”

At marches and rallies, picnics and parades, Workers’ Labor Day is a celebration of working people. And it’s a celebration of the power we have when we come together in a union—the power to take back our country for working people, not billionaires. 

Workers deserve the freedom, fairness and security that comes with a union. That’s why every organizing campaign, every strike, is an act of radical hope. We bet our solidarity and our collective power that working people can live a better life—one where we don’t have to struggle to afford food, housing and health care; where no one is targeted for who they are or where they were born; and where we can raise children and retire in dignity. 

This year, we brought together residents, elected leaders, organizations, and unionists from across the state to march in unity at the 2025 Boston Labor Day Parade.

Organized along with our union siblings at the Greater Boston Labor Council and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, we saw unmatched energy among the thousands who joined us. The parade route we marched included a number of historic sites, where we were able to honor the victories as we build upon the movement of today. 

 The contract will cover four years, beginning on September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2029. Over the course of the contract, educators will see increases to their salaries that take into account the true cost of living and other fiscal realities residents across the region face. For the 2025-2026 school year, educators will see an 8 to 12 percent salary increase, with a three percent annual increase over the remaining three years of the contract.

“This is a fair contract for the teachers of Peabody, one that is competitive to ensure we’re able to retain and recruit the educators our students deserve,” said PFT President Mike Hawes. “Throughout this process, we maintained a positive and open working relationship with the administration, which allowed us to deliver a stronger, more inclusive contract than we’ve seen before.”

“Peabody benefits when our schools are more equitable and inclusive, for both our students and our educators,” continued Hawes. “Creating stronger, more supportive workplaces for our educators results in stronger classrooms that take into account the specific needs of our students. This contract is a win for teachers, for students, and for the entire community.” 

As educators across the state gear up to return to school, the paras in New Bedford are off to a stronger start.

In July, the New Bedford Federation of Paraprofessionals secured a new, three-year contract for its members featuring strong salary increases across-the-board, ratification and retention bonuses, and stipends.

"This contract recognizes the important role paraeducators play in classrooms across New Bedford," said Nancy Furtado, who has worked as a paraeducator in the city for 25 years. "On top of across-the-board pay raises, this contract includes ratification and retention bonuses and stipends for paras working with high-needs students. By having strong leadership and an engaged Superintendent, we were able to win big things for New Bedford paraeducators."