81 years ago, Fred Korematsu stood up to injustice and cruelty by challenging Japanese internment during WWII. President Tang was honored to speak at Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties & the Constitution, lifting up our collective work as educators to help pave the path to more justice & equity.

Workers must UNITE! If you’re a union member—get active in your union! If you’re not in a union—join one or form one! The opponent isn’t just masked ICE vigilantes terrorizing schools and communities, it’s the billionaire corporations profiting from terror. But WE THE WORKERS have the power.

Tell Congress: keep ICE out of schools!!

This weekend, AFT MA members rallied for justice & safety! The horrifying acts of the militarized immigration enforcement in cities across this country are not about safety. They are about power, & they are putting innocent working people in danger. These harmful, violent federal actions must end.

SAY IT LOUDER

Wondering what you can do? Find a list of local actions happening statewide at tinyurl.com/FBT-Community-Actions (1/2)

🎉 New TA alert!!   Everett Library Staff Assoc. reached a tentative agreement yesterday that features big wage increases—including 25% over 3 years for library aides!—new paid family medical leave benefits, and boosts to longevity pay. (1/2)

Welcome to AFT MA, Belmont Public Library!
 Their independent staff union chose to affiliate with AFT MA this year because they were eager for the kind of solidarity, training, and resources that weren’t accessible as a single unit union. We’re so proud to welcome another chapter of the MLSA!

Let’s hear it for North Attleboro Federation of Teachers! Last month, NAFT ratified their strongest contract in a generation, winning long-overdue stipend reform, longevity increases, sick leave buy-back, and more. Read the full story at ma.aft.org/naft2025

President @jessjtang.bsky.social joined the Board of Elementary & Secondary Education to celebrate the 2026 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year: Lowell’s own Dr. Tara Goodhue!! A three-year United Teachers of Lowell member, Dr. Goodhue is an exceptional science teacher. (1/2)

President Tang testified at today’s BESE meeting, highlighting the fiscal cliff our schools are facing while they navigate over $120 million in federal funding cuts. Further crippling budgets is the current immigration climate, which has resulted in dramatic drops to attendance and enrollment. 1/3

Today the MA Board of Elementary and Secondary Education announced that Boston’s UP Academy Holland is on track to transition out of state receivership and Dearborn STEM Academy is on track to no longer be considered "underperforming." (1/2) @btu66.bsky.social Read more: ma.aft.org/holland-dearborn

We are grieving. We grieve with the Brown University community, with our Rhode Island AFT & AAUP siblings there, with every student who was scared to go to school today, and with every parent and educator worrying about their children and students today. Read AFT MA’s statement at ma.aft.org/brownu

We’re with Ed! Ed Markey has always had our back, from leading the fight for a para minimum wage, to championing working families & public ed, to fighting the dismantling of the Dept. of Education & attacks on our democracy. That’s why AFT MA endorsed @edmarkey.bsky.social for re-election in 2026.

I am honored to earn the endorsement of @aftmass.bsky.social. AFT MA educators are the backbone, the believers, and the builders of our Commonwealth’s future. In the U.S. Senate, I’ll keep up that fight and make sure every student in Massachusetts has the best public school education they deserve.

Codman Academy families deserve better! Codman Academy Charter Public School educators are fighting for their first contract & the basic safety standards, job security, & fair wages they need to keep serving the students of Boston. Stand with CACPS educators by signing @ tinyurl.com/CACPSletter

Solidarity with Harvard custodians, security officers, & community! AFT MA was proud to join @32bjseiu.bsky.social workers for their United for a Fair Contract rally at Harvard yesterday. Our 32BJ siblings are fighting for fair wages & strong benefits—and we’ve got their backs! Solidarity forever ✊

Stoneham, TODAY IS THE DAY! Vote YES on Questions 1 & 2 to Save Our Stoneham and Save Stoneham Library! The Stoneham Library staff are fellow AFT MA members—but without this override, the Library will close, along with vital town services we all use every day. Make sure to vote by 8PM today!!

So great to be in community this weekend with union siblings from @aft.org and APALA at the @nysut.bsky.social Members of Color Conference! President @jessjtang.bsky.social was honored to lead a plenary on fighting authoritarianism with people power.

Happy holidays from the AFT MA members of the Merrimack Valley Central Labor Council! Such a joy to celebrate another year of cross-labor solidarity with unions across the Merrimack Valley, including the Billerica Federation of Teachers, Lawrence Teachers Union, and United Teachers of Lowell!

Stoneham, it’s time to make a plan to VOTE YES on Questions 1 & 2 this Tuesday, Dec. 9! Vote YES on 12/9 to save Stoneham Library and everything it offers the community! 💪

The 2026 Teacher of the Year is Lowell’s own Tara Goodhue! Congratulations, Tara! AFT MA & United Teachers of Lowell are grateful for all you give to our students!

President Tang was on hand at the release of the Statewide Graduation Council’s preliminary report. As a member of the Council, our priority is to ensure the experiences of and input from our members are heard & incorporated into any final decisions. Read our full statement: ma.aft.org/SGC-prelim —

@AFTMass.bsky.social President @jessjtang.bsky.social makes a great point. This new framework is our chance to build a fairer and more representative graduation system that focuses less on high-stakes testing and focus more on what students have mastered. www.masslive.com/politics/202...

Join us in supporting The Harry H. Dow Memorial Legal Assistance Fund this Friday as they celebrate their 40th anniversary! The Dow Fund provides resources to ensure access to the legal system for Asian Americans facing racial, linguistic, and other barriers. Check out dowfund.org to learn more!

In case you missed it, here are some more photos capturing some of the highlights from our amazing Fall Conference!! From Umass Dartmouth to Pittsfield to Lowell—and truly everywhere in between!—AFT MA members converged on Norfolk Aggie to learn from & with each other at Saturday’s Fall Conference.

THANK YOU to everyone who came out for AFT MA’s 2025 Fall Conference!! With our biggest crowd in years, it was such a joy to be in community with members and leaders from every corner of the state.

💯 @jessjtang.bsky.social: “Spreading services across multiple departments has nothing to do with increasing efficiency. It is just the latest effort to sow confusion.. (&) makes it harder for our students...to access the support they need.” @AFTMass.bsky.social www.masslive.com/politics/202...

“We know the damage is already being felt in our schools, with our most vulnerable students suffering the most. The harm isn't theoretical. It's happening NOW. That's why we're suing. That's why we're fighting.” - President Tang #TrumpCrushesYourDreams www.masslive.com/politics/202...

“We know the damage is already being felt in our schools, with our most vulnerable students suffering the most.” AFT-MA president Jessica Tang -The harm isn't theoretical. It's happening NOW. That's why we're suing. That's why we're fighting.” #TrumpCrushesYourDreams www.masslive.com/politics/202...

AFT MA has been everywhere this week advocating for school funding! Did you see…👀 ✅ President Tang testifying at the hearing in support of a bill to increase state funding reimbursements to districts for special education students?

Contract win!! 🥳 Congrats to Berklee Faculty Union for ratifying a powerful new contract! BFU negotiated wage increases, better stipends and pay-equity, and the largest-ever conversion of part-time positions to full-time. Read more at ma.aft.org/news

Tonight!

AFT President Randi Weingarten has a new column out today. It’s a powerful look at what Americans are fighting for and why affordability matters now more than ever. Read here: www.aft.org/column/affor...

“Health behavior patterns and lifestyle changes make a huge difference in people’s health,” Cordwin says. “But to not allow them access to food is setting people up for failure.”

Proud to join @raiseupma.bsky.social in asking the Legislature to use 15% of MA’s rainy day fund to take care of our neighbors, members, students and families by offsetting devastating federal cuts to SNAP, education, and healthcare ☔️ When our neighbors are in trouble, Bay Staters step up to help.

Join us Monday! So much to learn, so much to inspire us as we confront our own crises. @aftmass.bsky.social @btu66.bsky.social

Unions worldwide are standing up for democracy. ✊ Join AFT, ASI & APALA for Defending Democracy: The Role of South Korean Labor Unions 🗓️ Nov. 17 | 5–6 PM ET 🔗 Save your spot tinyurl.com/3hwaftf6 @shankerinst.bsky.social @aft.org @aftmass.bsky.social @aftintlaffairs.bsky.social @jessjtang.bsky.social

AFT MA & allies showed UP to make our voices heard for the THRIVE Act & Community Schools today! These bills have the power to transform public education in our high needs districts by replacing the state's punitive receivership model and expanding the community schools model throughout the state.

Fall Conference is coming up! Are you registered? 👀 We’ve got all-new workshops on building union density, what to do after your contract campaign ends, building safe schools for immigrant families, & more. There's something for everyone! RSVP today to join: tinyurl.com/fallconference25

Last year, South Korea’s president declared martial law—but within HOURS, unions mobilized thousands of members to take to the streets. Their resistance was a key force leading to the reestablishment of South Korea’s democracy.

While I am disappointed we will continue to keep fighting for affordable health care and for a better life for working folks. The Rs should never have pit hunger and health care. Here's my full statement www.aft.org/press-releas...

NO loyalty oaths in higher ed! AFT MA staff joined the national higher ed walk-out today to show solidarity with the students leading the actions today and the higher ed faculty on campuses joining them. Next, join the @edufreedomproj.bsky.social higher ed rally on 11/15! tinyurl.com/11-15-rally

🗣️ New TA alert!   North Attleboro Federation of Teachers reached a tentative agreement last night with big wins on wages, stipends, sick leave, and longevity. Congrats, NAFT!! 

Now onward to ratification!

Polls close in just a few hours! Haven’t voted yet? Hear why these AFT MA members made sure to vote today, then head to your polling place to cast your ballot and make your voice heard! Find your polling place at wheredoivotema.com

🥳 Today’s the day to VOTE, AFT Massachusetts!🗳️ Polls are OPEN! The offices on your ballot today have the power to protect workers' rights, fund school budgets, & negotiate the contracts we work so hard to bargain. Find your polling place & hours @ www.WhereDoIVoteMA.com and be sure to vote today!

TOMORROW is Election Day! This is your chance to elect some of the very people who sit across from our locals at the bargaining table and determine our school & city budgets. Check your voter registration status and polling place so you can cast a vote in your local election! sec.state.ma.us/OVR

We're 3 weeks out from FALL CONFERENCE! 🥳 Join us to gain new tools & resources to engage your members, strengthen your local, & fight for AFT MA students, members, & communities. Join leaders, building reps, and rank-and-file members from across MA. RSVP today! tinyurl.com/fallconference25

The DRIVE Act will keep MA an innovative hub by investing in our public colleges & universities, & protecting jobs across higher ed. Thanks to Grant O’Reilly of UMass Dartmouth Faculty Federation, Salil Vadhan of Harvard @aaup.org, & Gina Turrigiano of Brandeis AAUP testifying with President Tang!