Press

AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang's Statement on Widespread Campaigns to Stifle Free Speech of Private Citizens

JT Statement September 26 2025 Facebook Square

"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.

"It is regrettable that the Peabody School District chose to disrupt their students’ education over allegations with no bearing on its schools or its learning environment. Educators are allowed to have opinions on public concerns, just like everyone else.

"Instead of protecting that right, Peabody and other school districts have created conditions where educators and their family members are facing harassment and threats, even as many accusations have proven to be unfounded.

"The AFT Massachusetts will continue to protect the right to free speech for all educators and make sure anyone facing harassment or retaliation has their right to due process upheld."

Lynn Leaders and Educators Urge State Education Board to Follow the Law

Lynn Leaders and Educators Urge State Education Board to Follow the Law (February 24, 2025)

KIPP Academy Lynn’s expansion proposal would circumvent long-standing regulations

In advance of tomorrow’s meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education(BESE), Lynn elected officials, teachers, and education leaders are urging BESE members to reject the expansion proposal from KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School, which does not meet the standards required by state law to even be considered.

From the very beginning, Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson, Lynn Public Schools Superintendent Evonne Alvarez, Ed

Billerica Community Urges Superintendent To Provide Educators With A Fair And Respectful Contract

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

Lynn Leaders and Educators Urge State Board to Vote Down Charter School Expansion

Lynn Leaders and Educators Urge State Board to Vote Down Charter School Expansion (February 19, 2025)

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Circumventing Laws Governing Expansion to Push KIPP Academy Lynn Proposal Forward

The next meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) will include a vote on a controversial request to expand from KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School.

Below is a joint statement from Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson, Lynn Public Schools Superintendent Evonne S. Alvarez, Ed.D., and Lynn Teachers Union President Sheila O’Neil in response to learning the

“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.”

Teachers Advocate for Stronger, More Equitable Retirement for Some of the Commonwealth’s Longest-Serving Educators

Teachers Advocate for Stronger, More Equitable Retirement for Some of the Commonwealth’s Longest-Serving Educators (February 18, 2025)

Urge legislators to support bills to address flawed roll-out of teacher retirement plan

Teachers from public school districts across Massachusetts hosted an advocacy day on Beacon Hill in support of two pieces of legislation that seek to give some of the state’s longest serving educators a more equitable and stronger retirement by addressing the issues caused by the state’s incredibly flawed roll-out of the Massachusetts Teachers Alternative Retirement Plan (TARP

AFT Massachusetts: Senate Passes Common-Sense Approach to Ensure Distraction-Free Learning for All Students

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

Markey Leads Members of Massachusetts Delegation, Unions in Disavowing Trump’s Attempt to Dismantle Education Department

Markey Leads Members of Massachusetts Delegation, Unions in Disavowing Trump’s Attempt to Dismantle Education Department (February 6, 2025)

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Health Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation -- Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representatives Richard Neal (MA-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), and Bill Keating (MA-09) -- along with the Massachusetts Teachers Association

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.”

AFT Massachusetts Responds to Trump Threats to Freeze All Federal Funding

AFT Massachusetts Responds to Trump Threats to Freeze All Federal Funding (January 28, 2025)

American Federation of Teachers President Jessica Tang released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s decision to pause all federal funding and grants:

“This thoughtless and, frankly, reckless decision to halt all federal funding will cause unprecedented harm to our students, families, and educators of the Commonwealth. In one week, President Trump has created an environment of chaos, fear and division throughout the nation and this latest announcement only cements his complete