Calling all members!! AFT Massachusetts is convening issue-based working groups for 2025. Each group will be member-run and will have an assigned AFT Massachusetts staff member to help facilitate and provide assistance.
In these working groups, participants will be able to connect with members from across the federation on the issues most important to them, their schools, and their locals.
Please consider joining one today and bring your unique experience, expertise, and interest to the table! Those interested in joining a working group should contact their local president today!
CLIMATE JUSTICE
To advocate for policies and actions within the AFTMA schools and communities that will lessen the impact of climate change and facilitate a just transition to a fossil fuel free future and to promote healthy, green, carbon free, modern workplaces for our members, students, clients, and patients.
LIBRARIES
Libraries play an essential role in our communities and became critical lifelines to information and public services for many during the pandemic. The challenges and environments library workers face are unique and this table will bring together library workers from across the Commonwealth to discuss their specific needs and issues.
PARAPROFESSIONAL & SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL
Paraprofessional and School-Related Personnel serve as invaluable connections between educators, parents, students and the community – ensuring all children and their educators have what they need to thrive. Recently, PSRPs have seen tremendous wins, including historic wage increases, more supportive benefits, and establishing their roles and the respect they deserve in the schools and communities they serve. This group will focus on the specific needs of PSRPs and how we can build upon those recent wins to ensure a strong and supported PSRP workforce, which is critical to the success of our students and classrooms.
VIRTUAL AND DIGITAL LEARNING
Technology should be integrated into education with the primary purpose of improving teaching and learning, and digital tools must always enhance, not replace, the learning relationship between educators and their students. The working group will review the promise and potential of technology integration in education, highlighting effective examples, linking to essential research, and examining implications for students, educators, and administrators
RACIAL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
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. We’ve seen some recent accomplishments at the state level with the passage of the Educator Diversity Act, but this work is far from over. This working group will serve as a collaborative space for all members to explore, discuss, and advance racial equity and inclusion within their workplaces and union locals.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Higher education remains a critical component to economic mobility and access to public higher education will be crucial at a time when we face significant federal funding cuts to the programs and services that support working families. In order to support these students, we must ensure our institutions of higher education provide faculty and staff with the fair wages, benefits, and respect they deserve. This working group meets to build power collectively for justice in higher education for faculty, staff, and students. In addition, this group will chart a plan of action to fight the challenges of the new presidential administration, including the serious threats to immigrant and international students, the attack on academic freedom, and other critical issues.
VOTECH | CTE
All educators know the important role of VoTech and Career and Technical Education in the Commonwealth’s education ecosystem. Considering the renewed focus on investment we’re seeing at the state and local level, these schools and the opportunities they provide the next generation of Massachusetts workers, it’s critical that we understand the specific needs and issues important to educators in these areas. This working group is especially tailored for any members currently working in VoTech or Career and Technical Education, but is also open to those interested in working in these areas.
RETIREES
All AFT Massachusetts members have a right to a dignified and secure retirement – a right our union fights to ensure each and every day. This working group will focus on the key issues our retirees face and what advocacy and changes are needed to improve the retirement security for current and future AFT Massachusetts retirees.
YOUNG WORKERS
We are facing a significant teaching shortage in this nation and, unfortunately, Massachusetts is not immune. With the teacher pay penalty, high costs of living, and burdensome levels of student loans, we see many gifted educators are forced to leave for more supportive positions. While we need serious action on the state and federal level to support teachers, we must also do our part to provide these colleagues with strong levels of support and guidance to help increase retention rates. This group will focus on identifying ways to thoughtfully engage the next generation of educators in our schools.
COLLABORATIVES AND CHARTER SCHOOLS
This group will bring together AFT Massachusetts members working at any of our collaborative, charter schools, or other non-traditional public/private educational institutions. These schools - which lack conventional democratizing elements such as an elected school committee or elected public officials – face very unique challenges and serve unique populations. This group is dedicated to developing innovative strategies to effectively bargain local contracts while operating under anti-democratic governance structures and/or other issues identified by working group members.
Those interested in joining a working group should contact their local president today!