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Billerica Community Urges Superintendent To Provide Educators With A Fair And Respectful Contract (September 15, 2025)

As the Billerica Federation of Teachers (BFT) Local 1677 has its twelfth bargaining session with the district this evening, parents and members of the community are urging town leaders to move forward and provide educators with a contract that is good for students and fair to educators. 

More than 1,100 Billerica parents and residents signed a letter to Superintendent Kerry Clery and members of the Billerica School Committee to declare their support for the priorities and

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Quote from Jessica Tang

“We condemn all forms of violence, including political violence. This year alone, there have been 47 school shootings with 19 lives lost. Right now, educators across the country are focused on providing their students a safe space to learn and grow at a time when many are living in fear. We hope that the same things we teach in the classroom - how to engage in debate thoughtfully and peacefully, the importance of empathy and critical thinking, and non-violent conflict resolution – can find their way back into our society and public discourse.

“Freedom of speech is also a hallmark of our country. It is alarming that we're seeing a widespread increase in efforts to silence and penalize Americans for speaking on a matter of public concern in a private capacity. The First Amendment should apply to all, not the few. When an educator is put on leave, the impacts are felt in the classroom, with our students losing out on valuable instruction time. It is important that all who are targeted receive due process rights, another hallmark of our democracy and country, and we will vigorously defend their rights.   

“Instead of having serious conversations about the gun violence epidemic that has gripped our nation and our schools, we’re having to address the impacts of targeted bullying and harassment - both of which have no place in the classroom or in our democracy.”

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AFT Massachusetts: Senate Passes Common-Sense Approach to Ensure Distraction-Free Learning for All Students (July 31, 2025).

The American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts released the following statement in response to legislation passed by the Massachusetts Senate today to address cell phone use in schools: 

“Technology is a transformational tool in education, from allowing us to foster collaboration on a completely different level to making countless materials and resources available at our fingertips, allowing us to expand the horizons of our students in unprecedented ways. But, it’s

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Equity and Dignity in Retirement

By a vote of 158-to-0, the Massachusetts House of Representatives today passed critical legislation to bring more equity and dignity to the retirement of some of the state’s longest-serving public school teachers. Filed by House Assistant Majority Leader Alice Peisch and Representative Rob Consalvo,  An Act relative to benefits for teachers would allow teachers hired before January 1, 2001 a one-time opportunity to buy into the Teachers Alternative Retirement Plan (TARP), also known as Retirement Plus, after thousands of eligible teachers were not able to successfully enroll in the program over twenty years ago.

“From teachers on maternity leave to teachers dropped from the program with no notification, the roll-out of Retirement Plus continues to impact the lives of teachers across the state nearly a quarter-century later,” said American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “We are grateful to Assistant Leader Peisch for her commitment to providing educators the equitable and secure retirement they deserve. We look forward to the Senate taking action this session so that this issue and the educators impacted by it can get the debate in that chamber that they deserve.”

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Retirement Plus FY 26 Budget

Educators and labor leaders from 219 local unions across the state are urging members of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget conference committee to include important language regarding educator retirement options in the final version of the FY26 budget.

For decades, the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts and member locals, including the Boston Teachers Union, have helped members navigate their complex benefits systems, including the Massachusetts Teachers Alternative Retirement Plan (or Retirement Plus). Due to an ineffective and confusing roll-out by the state in 2001, thousands of teachers were unfairly shut out of this enhanced retirement system, forcing them to teach for an additional 3 to 5 years to reach their maximum retirement benefit. Unfortunately, this continues to impact thousands of teachers across the state nearly a quarter-century later.

“After years of advocacy, we are energized to see movement to fully address the issues around the original roll-out of Retirement plus, which continue to impact teachers nearly a quarter of a century later,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “We urge the Conferees to include the language from the House budget to provide some of our state's longest-serving teachers with the equitable and secure retirement they deserve.”

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Lynnfield Residents Vote Yes to Protect Town Library and Public Services (June 5, 2025)

At the June 4, 2025 Special Town Election, Lynnfield residents voted overwhelmingly for a $4.65 million override to provide the same level of services and resources currently provided to residents through the town’s library, public schools, and senior center.

Below is a statement from Lynnfield resident Katherine Decker, who is also Head of Circulation at Lynnfield Public Library and a member of the Lynnfield Library Staff Association, in response to the vote:

“With this vote, Lynnfield came together to

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Release

Massachusetts Education Labor Leaders Extend Support for Milford High School Student Gomes da Silva (June 5, 2025)

Ensuring equal opportunities and protecting the rights of all students remains a top priority for educators across the state

AFT Massachusetts, the Boston Teachers Union, and the Massachusetts Teachers Association released the following statement in response to news that federal immigration Judge Jenny Beverly has ordered Marcelo Gomes da Silva, a Milford High School student arrested last weekend by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, be released on bond:

“As educators

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Appeals Court Maintains Block on Unlawful Plans to Dismantle Department of Education (June 4, 2025)

Local educators, labor leaders, and communities behind the challenge

The First Circuit Court of Appeals today delivered another blow to President Trump’s attempt to dismantle the Department of Education, denying the government’s request for a stay that would have lifted a lower court injunction blocking mass firings and unlawful elimination of many of the Department’s crucial services.

"Today's decision reaffirmed that the White House is not above the law and we will never stop fighting to protect

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Establishing alternative pathways to support those interested in becoming educators - a long-standing priority of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts to strengthen and diversify the Commonwealth’s pipeline of educators – is now a reality.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted unanimously to establish alternative assessments to the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), creating a broader range of pathways for those aspiring to be teachers.

"This is a critical step forward to address the current teacher shortage we're facing and, more importantly, increase the diversity of our pipeline of teachers,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “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. As we build a stronger, more diverse pipeline, more students will be able to identify with their teachers and will be more likely to consider becoming teachers themselves. We look forward to working with the state and Legislature to continue to identify ways to make stronger, more supportive schools for all."

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Save the Lynnfield Library

“My colleagues and I love being a part of the Lynnfield community and want to be able to provide the same level of support and service to the community that we’re providing now,” said Katherine Decker, a Lynnfield resident and Head of Circulation at Lynnfield Public Library (LPL). “We are asking our neighbors and friends to vote yes to safeguard the programs and resources thousands in our community can access when they walk through our doors.”

The LPL provides programs for all ages, story-times and promotion of literacy, print and electronic materials, research assistance, technology help, book groups, as well as a place for locals to connect and engage with their community. Last year, LPL hosted nearly 400 programs with over 7,460 participants.

“Each day, the Lynnfield Public Library welcomes nearly 400 residents who can rely on us to provide their entire community with the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational opportunities they’ve come to enjoy and, in some cases, rely on,” 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.”  

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