News

AFT Massachusetts members are taking action to get out the vote for Kamala Harris for President in battleground states and in support of Yes on Ballot Question 2 in Massachusetts.

This November’s election will be critical to preserving our hard fought rights and victories, like ensuring all workers benefit from the strong labor protections we’ve won over the past century, and giving people in every industry a voice on the job through the ability to join a union.  

A YES vote on Question 2, would end the misuse of the MCAS test as a graduation requirement. Students would still take the MCAS and the test would be used as an assessment tool, but passage would no longer be a requirement to receive a high school diploma. This change would align Massachusetts with 42 other states that don’t require a standardized test for graduation.

Join our virtual Town Hall to hear more about AFT MA & BTU's electoral priorities for 2024, rally around our endorsed candidates & ballot questions, and learn about how to get involved to elect Kamala Harris and candidates/issues down the ballot who will champion labor rights!

On Monday, August 26th at 5pm, we'll gather on Zoom to hear from AFT MA President Jessica Tang, BTU President Erik Berg, and more. Sign up to receive an email with a Zoom link closer to the day of.

Massachusetts is one of only eight states that require students to pass a high school graduation test in order to receive a diploma. As a result, educators are forced to narrow our curriculum to the passing of a single test, and hundreds of students each year are denied a diploma despite meeting all other academic requirements. But a ballot initiative on this November’s statewide ballot could change that.

“Passing Question 2 will allow educators to spend less time teaching to the test, and instead focus on teaching real-world skills including hands-on learning, creativity, critical thinking and working well in a group, which are essential to success in college and the workforce,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “That’s important for all students, and especially for students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities and students for whom English is their second language, who are especially harmed by the MCAS graduation requirement. Too often, our highest-need students miss out on deeper, more meaningful learning because they’re forced to spend extra hours on repetitive test prep. Question 2 will allow educators to prioritize students’ unique learning needs to ensure they meet state standards, rather than denying them diplomas at a critical juncture in their life.”

AFT has officially endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president. AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang, who voted in support of the endorsement Sunday as a member of the AFT Executive Council before it went to the full delegation Monday, released the following statement:

“President Joe Biden is the best labor president in our nation’s history, and we at AFT Massachusetts are deeply grateful to him for his strong leadership and record accomplishments for the American people, particularly women’s rights, labor rights and public education. His legacy as a leader who brought America out of the COVID-19 pandemic, fixed the worst economy since the Great Depression, and delivered again and again for working people is unmatched.

“Vice President Kamala Harris has been by President Biden’s side leading the fight for reproductive rights, labor rights, and social and economic justice. She is the right person for this moment, and we are proud to be a part of her historic endorsement at the AFT convention.

Educators and staff at the Community Charter School of Cambridge (CCSC) today announced that they are forming a union with the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts (AFTMA), joining a surge of union organizing at Massachusetts charter schools this year. The union will represent 66 teachers and other school employees at CCSC, which educates around 250 students in grades 6-12.

“I’m excited to welcome the educators and staff at the Community Charter School of Cambridge to our AFT union family! We are thrilled to support their organizing for better working and learning conditions,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “All educators and school staff deserve a true voice on the job, and all students deserve a healthy school environment that meets their diverse learning needs. CCSC employees are part of a powerful movement of charter school educators who are forming unions with AFT Massachusetts because they understand that when we organize together, we can build the schools and communities our students and their families deserve.”

“We are extremely disappointed with Acting Commissioner Johnston’s decision to allow a political ally of the Mayor to serve as the next Superintendent of Lawrence over three highly qualified candidates who have the skills, experience, and community ties necessary for this critical role. 

“Lawrence deserves a superintendent who is ready to take our children and schools to new heights and has the proven ability to work collaboratively with educators at this critical time in the city’s schools. Sadly, that’s not what they’re getting.

“The Lawrence Alliance for Education and Acting Commissioner Johnston have completely ignored months of work by the search committee, a community process that included valuable input from families and residents, in-depth  candidate surveys, and feedback from professional educators, administrators, and staff."

Boston Teachers Union President Jessica Tang was unanimously elected President of the AFT Massachusetts at the statewide union’s annual convention this weekend. She began her career in Boston Public Schools as a middle school social studies teacher, and is the first person of color to serve as President of AFT Massachusetts.
 
“It’s an honor to represent the 25,000 educators, librarians, health and public service workers from across the commonwealth who make up AFT Massachusetts,” said Tang. “Our union shares a vision of a state with public schools and colleges that all of our students can thrive in, and libraries and public services that all of our communities can be proud of. Massachusetts should continue to be a model for what’s possible, and I know we can achieve tremendous things when we as union members organize together with our communities.”
 
“I look forward to working together with the members of AFT Massachusetts to build our power, not just as AFT Massachusetts members, but as a labor movement and in partnership with community allies,” she said. “Together, we will amplify the voices of workers, students, families, and our neighbors, and continue to build the great schools and communities we deserve.”

Lowell Public School Community Manager Gayl Hurley is in her 25th year as an educator, and she’s always looking for new ways to support students and their families at the Sullivan Middle School in Lowell, where she works.

Last school year, Hurley brought in a barber a few times to provide free haircuts for students, and the response was overwhelming. Within a few days, nearly 60 students signed up.

Hurley, United Teachers of Lowell union rep who is in her 12th year in the Lowell Public Schools, immediately began working to set up the first operational barbershop in a middle school in Massachusetts. With the support of a federal Community Schools grant awarded to the district, she was able to open “Husky Kutz” this past fall.

The Wentworth Institute of Technology Faculty Federation, AFT Local 2403, which represents the faculty and librarians at the Wentworth Institute of Technology, recently negotiated a strong three-year contract that includes a salary increase of 16.5% over three years, the addition of lecturers as members of the union, and a host of other workplace benefits.

“Winning our new contract was the result of our union's patience, determination, and unity,” said Ted Rooney, an Associate Professor of English and President of the Wentworth Faculty Federation. “Those are the fundamental elements of any successful union initiative. The union negotiation team established ambitious goals for the contract, remained steadfast in the face of management resistance to union demands, and refused to accept unreasonable proposals from management. At all times, meanwhile, the negotiating team had the full support of the union membership, which was made clear during the several meetings the negotiating team held to update members.”

As we observe MLK Jr. Day this year, I hope you’ll join me in reflecting on these words. As educators and librarians, we have a duty to equip our students not only with knowledge, but with the tools they need to apply that knowledge to improving their communities and the world. And as a union, we must stand up for the audacious vision Dr. King describes: a world where all the needs of our students and our communities - both physical and nonmaterial - are fully met.

I’m constantly inspired by the students I see living out their values in the world, whether they’re organizing rallies for racial and gender justice, working to reduce climate change in their communities, or advocating for the high-quality, fully-resourced schools they deserve. Let’s remember Dr. King’s words this month, and continue working towards the ‘worthy objectives’ that he spoke of. - Beth Kontos, AFT Massachusetts President