AFT Massachusetts

Increase the COLA base for City of Boston retirees with a minimum COLA of 3%!

This is morning members of the Retired Teachers Chapter (RTC) and the BTU testified before the Boston Retirement Board to advocate for an increase in Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) for retired public workers in Boston. AFT Massachusetts President Tang submitted written testimony.

AFT Massachusetts represents 25,000 members statewide, including thousands of active and retired teachers and professionals including school nurses, psychologists, guidance counselors, paraprofessionals, and substitute teachers working in the Boston Public Schools. We also represent the members of the Boston Public Library Professional Staff Association, which includes hundreds working in the City’s library system.

While we all know that each year it gets a little more expensive to live. Many retirees are at the breaking point—unable to keep up with skyrocketing costs while living on a fixed income. The basic promise of being able to retire with dignity is at risk due to current restrictions on cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) and the ever-rising costs of necessities in Massachusetts—which continues to be one of the most expensive places to live in the world. It also has been named the second most expensive place to retire—making the outlook bleak for retirees.

Devices down, eyes up, hands on!

President Tang joined AFT President Randi Weingarten and other leaders this morning for her landmark address on public education in the AI era.

President Weingarten launched a 10-point plan focused on active learning, literacy, and civic engagement. Educators need support in creating effective, empowering learning environments free from distraction!

Check out the full text of Pres. Weingarten’s speech at www.aft.org/press/speeches/vision-public-education.

The drug landscape facing young people today is changing rapidly—and it’s more complex than many realize. While fentanyl remains a leading driver of overdose deaths, it is increasingly part of a broader, evolving mix of substances, including synthetic compounds, veterinary sedatives like xylazine and medetomidine, and drugs purchased online that have never been tested for human use.

For educators, families and healthcare professionals, this moment calls for clear, science-based information—not fear-based messaging.

Join AFT President Randi Weingarten, Dr. Vin Gupta, and nationally recognized addiction medicine expert Dr. Yngvild Olsen for a timely Vital Lessons conversation on what today’s drug environment means for youth health, safety and prevention.

Together, they will explore how polysubstance use is reshaping risk, how new synthetic drugs are entering communities, and what adults need to understand to better support young people.

https://sharemylesson.com/webinars/fentanyl-protecting-youth-communities-drug

Remember and honor, Memorial Day 2026!

On Memorial Day, we reflect on the dedication of our armed forces and military families. We salute their service, honor their sacrifice, and cherish their memory.

Retirement Planning Workshop for Public Sector AFT Members

Date and time: Mon, Jun 1, 3:30pm-5:30pm EDT

Location: Lynn Teachers Union located at 679 Western Avenue, Lynn, MA 01905

All public sector members are invited to join AFT Massachusetts and the Lynn Teachers Union for an upcoming retirement planning workshop! AFT Massachusetts has partnered with Teacher Retirement Solutions (TRS), which specializes in providing independent financial guidance, strategies, and solutions to educators, school employees, librarians, and their families throughout New England, to provide prospective retirees with this comprehensive workshop. We cover a variety of topics, including the Massachusetts' public employee retirement formula, Social Security, and living in retirement.

Link to register: https://aftmassachusetts.tiny.us/RetirementJune1

President Tang was proud to attend the inaugural Embrace Boston Celebration of Harry Hom Dow!

When systems were designed to exclude, Harry Hom Dow turned to the law as a tool for
liberation. His work challenged injustice and created pathways for those too often left out. Today, his legacy lives on at the 1965 Freedom Plaza and in the leaders who continue to build, organize, and advocate.

This gathering honors that legacy and celebrates a new generation of changemakers.
Leaders whose work reflects a community in motion, shaping what Asian American, Native
Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) civic life looks like across generations, professions, and neighborhoods. This AANHPI Heritage Month and beyond, we celebrate together. Congratulations to this year’s awardees! https://www.embraceboston.org/embrace-honors-harry-hom-dow/

WATCH NOW: R+ UPDATES https://malegislature.gov/Events/Sessions/Detail/7706

Our teamwork is paying off—the R+ amendment was withdrawn this afternoon, but it’s NOT bad news. It was withdrawn because legislative allies have identified a strong path forward. Your advocacy has made a difference!

WATCH NOW for more news live from the floor of the MA State Senate and please thank your Senators and Senate Leadership!

Session Details - Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Please enter your email address. If there is an account associated with that address, a password reset link will be mailed to you.

Join President Tang and Embrace Boston tonight in celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month. Pres. Tang will be joining the fireside chat tonight to reflect on the experiences of Asian-Americans in the past and present.

When systems were built to exclude, Harry Hom Dow used the law to open doors. Now, a new generation is stepping forward to continue that work.

Join us for the inaugural Embrace Honors Harry Hom Dow: Carry it Forward as we celebrate AANHPI leaders shaping civic life across Boston and beyond.

This AANHPI Heritage Month, we honor a legacy rooted in justice and recognize the changemakers building what comes next: Fred Dow, Helen Chin Schlichte, Nick Chau, Paul Lee, Suzanne Lee, Tina Zhu Xi Caruso, and Senator Vanna Howard.

📍 1965 Freedom Plaza at The Embrace Monument
📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM

RSVP: https://tr.ee/embracehonorsharryhomdow