131 AFT MA members converged on DC for this year’s @aft.org National Convention! Swipe to catch up on a great weekend of solidarity and strengthening our union! Read the full story at ma.aft.org/2026AFTConventionRecap
Jessica J. Tang
@jessjtang.bsky.social
Teacher, organizer, activist, unionist and president of AFT Massachusetts; also an AFT VP, MA AFL-CIO VP and former president of Boston Teachers Union. Fighting for a better future for all.
Last week at convention, @aftmass.bsky.social President @jessjtang.bsky.social laid out a blueprint for building community power — the one-to-one conversations that move people from despair to hope and from fear to courage.
Jessica Tang addresses AFT Convention
YouTube video by AFT
youtu.be
House Republicans tried to sneak another voucher bill into their NDAA. Thankfully it they weren’t able to do it. Let’s be clear: vouchers drain public schools of much needed funds. We will keep fighting for fully funded public schools for all.
As @rweingarten.bsky.social said yesterday in her speech: “Our union stands at the intersection of the ways that regular people gain & exercise power in our democracy—through public education, unions and voting.” And we are not letting misinformation or desperate ploys distract us. @aft.org
"No matter what you call them, the result is the same—expanded opportunity gaps and increased racial and economic inequity." h/t @jessjtang.bsky.social #mapoli commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/gov-...
Gov. Healey should reject the federal education voucher program
Gov. Healey has an opportunity to lead by joining three other governors who have opted out – Gov. Tina Kotek in Oregon, Gov. Tim Walz in Minnesota, and Gov. Tony Evers in Wisconsin – and taking a stan...
commonwealthbeacon.org
What’s patriotic? Public funds for public schools! Public schools are foundational to our democracy and that’s why Project 2025’s voucher scam should NOT be considered in MA:
Gov. Healey should reject the federal education voucher program
Gov. Healey has an opportunity to lead by joining three other governors who have opted out – Gov. Tina Kotek in Oregon, Gov. Tim Walz in Minnesota, and Gov. Tony Evers in Wisconsin – and taking a stan...
commonwealthbeacon.org
Thanks to @aft.org and @firstbook.org we at @aftmass.bsky.social and the @btu66.bsky.social are giving away soccer related books to kids and hosting a family friendly watch party with snacks, activities and special guests on Tuesday, July 7 at the BTU! Please help spread the word! All are welcome:
Let’s go Cape Verde!!! Let’s go Vozhina!!! #WorldCup2026 #CaboVerde
Don’t forget:❗HANDS OFF TPS - Boston Protest❗ ⏰ Sun, Jun 28, 2PM We cannot sit still while the Supreme Court allows the one of the largest de-documentation efforts in modern history. TPS holders are not temporary in our community, they are valued neighbors, coworkers, friends, community.
This country has been a beacon of hope for people around the world seeking safe haven. Ending TPS for Haitians and Syrians is rooted in discrimination and hate. SCOTUS closes its eyes to history and the consequences of America closing our borders to those in need. www.aft.org/press-releas...
AFT’s Weingarten on US Supreme Court Ruling Ending Protection for Hundreds of Thousands of Haitians and Syrians
WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to end temporary protected status protections ...
aft.org
Minnesotans stood in solidarity with their neighbors during ICE's assault on their community. The Trump admin is now going after those who exercised their right to protest rather than investigate the ICE agents who killed Renée Good & Alex Pretti. We stand with Minnesota. bsky.app/profile/educ...
Education Minnesota@educationmn.bsky.social · 2mo agoEducation Minnesota stands with educator and union member, 14 other Minnesotans facing charges related to demonstrating against ICE during Operation Metro Surge https://edmn.me/43ZhOlv
This is huge for us in MA! @aftmass.bsky.social is proud to be part of the coalition who fought this and proud to have had 3 of our members as plaintiffs in this important court case: www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/18/m...
Mass. high court rules proposal to slash income tax can’t appear on November ballot - The Boston Globe
The state’s highest court ruled Thursday that a ballot question that would cut the state income tax in Massachusetts cannot proceed to the November ballot, dealing a blow to business groups who had ar...
bostonglobe.com
“The use of public dollars for private voucher schemes remains anathema. While it’s a good that the political backlash has resulted in some potential uses for public school parents, vouchers are never a substitute for direct, sustained investment in public education.” www.nytimes.com/2026/06/09/u...
Trump Law Would Also Direct Voucher Money to Public Schools
nytimes.com
As a huge Lord of the Rings fan (obvi read all the books, too!) this was another favorite moment from the @aflcio.org Convention: The very talented @SeanAstin.bsky.social and president of @sagaftra.org reciting some of my fav lines from #LOTR and making the connections to the moment and labor!
This was an incredible moment at the @aflcio.org 30th convention kick off—standing ovation for the leaders of the Minnesota AFL CIO, President Bernie Burnham flanked by St Paul & Minneapolis labor federation presidents, who then invited up all Minnesotans who were a part of solidarity resistance. ✊
What we need to counter the harms of AI and social media:
Randi Weingarten 🖇️📚✊🇺🇸@rweingarten.bsky.social · 2mo agoIn my speech today, I called for a “devices-down, eyes-up, hands-on” strategy. Kids are drowning in tech, but building safeguards and prioritizing active learning through meaningful projects helps students harness their future and build the country they dream of. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/27/t...
Proud to be there today to join fellow AFT leaders and our President @rweingarten.bsky.social to show solidarity with our southern states. Also proud to stand with 3 members of Congress from MA, including Rep McGovern, Rep Clark and my very own congresswoman @pressley.house.gov #AllRoadsSouth
AFT@aft.org · 3mo agoHappening now: Members of Congress from across the country are gathered in Montgomery's Legacy Park to send a clear message to the nation that the rollback of voting rights will not happen quietly, unchallenged, or without organized resistance. #AllRoadsSouth
Thank you to everyone who supported Mariola—and if you can contribute to her mutual aid fund, please do! She was not able to work her second job and lost a lot of pay over the last month due to her situation, but we are glad she is able to be home with her son and family.
AFT Massachusetts@aftmass.bsky.social · 3mo agoLatest update on Mariola, beloved mother and Lynn paraprofessional targeted by ICE:
May Day rally in Boston #BTU66 with President @erikberg.bsky.social in full effect; AFT Mass President @jessjtang.bsky.social & @aft.org Secretary/Treasurer Fed Ingram fired up the crowd with rousing remarks & critical calls to action #ICEOut #FundSchoolsNotWars
Our Lynn Teachers Union para Mariola has her court date tomorrow morning. This Mother’s Day, we are showing her, her son and her students that she is not alone, and we have her back. Join us on Mothers Day to show her some love:
Feeder marches still rolling in and don’t forget—music, joy and celebration of our diversity is a part of the #resistance! Boston May Day closing rally starting off strong! 💪 ✊#MayDayStrong
Feeder marches rolling into the closing rally at Boston Common for our May Day of actions!! #MayDayStrong
May 1 is almost here…join the last mass call before the big day of action TONIGHT at 8PM EST to hear from inspiring national leaders & local labor leaders from cities across the country (including Boston!) making May Day bigger than ever to meet the moment. Take action, get involved! #MayDayStrong
Hungarians defying Orban. This is courage. x.com/allenanalysi...
Brian Allen on X: "BREAKING: Protesters in Hungary have flooded the streets in open defiance of Viktor Orbán and his ally Vladimir Putin demanding an end to creeping authoritarianism. Mainstream media is barely touching it. Let’s make sure the world sees it. https://t.co/uUyAWNbDbQ" / X
BREAKING: Protesters in Hungary have flooded the streets in open defiance of Viktor Orbán and his ally Vladimir Putin demanding an end to creeping authoritarianism. Mainstream media is barely touching it. Let’s make sure the world sees it. https://t.co/uUyAWNbDbQ
x.com
Happy National Unicorn—we mean, “Unique-corn”—Day from Boston’s Baldwin Early Learning Center!🦄 President @jessjtang.bsky.social, @btu66.bsky.social VP Lea Serena, and BPL PSA & MLSA VP Pres. Allie Hahn read unicorn books at Baldwin's “Unique-corn” Day, which celebrates what makes all of us unique!
We are honored to present our Progressive Persistence Award to @jessjtang.bsky.social, at our Virtual Awards Night on Sun, April 26th! Jessica is a committed champion of ensuring that our schools and teachers serve as community anchors & critical players against fascism. tinyurl.com/pmvirtualawa...
Two events to learn more about the new @workingfamilies.org chapter here in MA…Boston tonight, Springfield Saturday! ✊
Thank you to the 180k in Boston and the over 8 Million across the nation who stood up for democracy and denounced the authoritarian regime in the White House! We asked you to commit to action! What have you chosen? Take the We The Powerful pledge at nokings.boston and keep the pressure on!!
See you there! Labor meet up is at 40 Summer Street in front of Citizens Bank where we will be protesting their funding of for profit prisons used by ICE. Then we march to the main stage! #NoKings @aft.org #NoKingsBoston
Mass50501@mass50501.bsky.social · 4mo agoBig voices. Bold art. Massive people power. ✊ On March 28, tens of thousands will gather at Boston Common and show how powerful we are! See the full program list at nokings.boston Donate: givebutter.com/NoKingsBoston #NoKingsBoston