Press | AFT Massachusetts

Educators Statewide Urge Budget Leaders to Provide a More Equitable Retirement for Commonwealth’s Longest-Serving Teachers

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.”

Massachusetts Educators Prepared to Protect Rights and Safety of All Students

Massachusetts Educators Prepared to Protect Rights and Safety of All Students (January 24, 2025)

Education leaders condemn Trump’s hateful, divisive agenda

As families, leaders, and educators across the country try to address the Trump Administration's threats of raids and mass deportations and the environment of fear he's created in our communities, American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang and Boston Teachers Union President Erik Berg released the following statement reaffirming their commitment to protecting all students and families of the Commonwealth:

“We

Lynnfield Residents Vote Yes to Protect Town Library and Public Services

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

Educators, Students, Elected Officials, and Business Leaders Agree: Vote Yes for South Shore Tech

Educators, Students, Elected Officials, and Business Leaders Agree: Vote Yes for South Shore Tech (January 23, 2025)

Nine communities to vote on new facility for South Shore Technical School to support future workforce, increase access, and expand programming

This Saturday, January 25, voters in nine South Shore communities have the opportunity to support a new facility and expansion of South Shore Technical School (SST), which has been providing students and adults throughout the area with the skills to be successful members of the local workforce and regional economy for over six decades.

Firs

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

AFT Massachusetts: Governor’s Budget First Step in Supporting Students, Working Families, And Communities

AFT Massachusetts: Governor’s Budget First Step in Supporting Students, Working Families, And Communities (January 22, 2025)

American Federation of Teachers President Jessica Tang released the following statement in response to Governor Maura Healey’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026:

“Governor Healey’s budget reinforces her Administration’s commitment to making a more equitable Commonwealth – one where all residents can access affordable housing, reliable transportation, healthcare, and high-quality public schools.

“States are facing unprecedented cuts to federal investment and critical programming

Appeals Court Maintains Block on Unlawful Plans to Dismantle Department of Education

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

AFT Massachusetts Applauds Governor Healey’s Commitment to Supporting the Needs of Massachusetts Students and Families

AFT Massachusetts Applauds Governor Healey’s Commitment to Supporting the Needs of Massachusetts Students and Families (January 16, 2025)

After attending the Governor Maura Healey’s second State of the Commonwealth address this evening, the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang released the following statement:

“The Commonwealth’s ability to lead and thrive relies on a fully-funded, equitable, and high-quality public education system - from early childhood to post-secondary.

“We share Governor Healey’s vision of a Commonwealth where we continue to lead in quality

After Years of Advocacy, Massachusetts Establishes Alternative Pathways to Educator Licensure to Strengthen K-12 Workforce

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."

“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.”