The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) has identified educator pay and medical leave as key legislative priorities for the current session. The union is backing a bill that would establish a minimum salary for educators and school support staff. The proposed bill stipulates that K-12 support staff would earn at least $55,000 annually, while teachers would be guaranteed a minimum salary of $70,000 per year.
Max Page, President of the MTA, explained that these salary increases are necessary to reduce the number of bargaining campaigns across the state. “We’re putting a stake in the ground,” said Page. “It’s time to be honest about what it costs to attract and retain the best new generation of educators.” The union’s proposed salary increases are meant to address the ongoing struggle to secure competitive compensation for teachers and staff.
In addition to advocating for better pay for K-12 educators, the MTA is also focusing its efforts on higher education. The union is pushing for salary increases for faculty members at state universities and the University of Massachusetts system.
A major goal is to ensure that part-time adjunct faculty members are included in the state pension and health insurance programs. Currently, adjunct faculty do not have access to these benefits, a situation that the union is working to change.
A recent study highlighted a pressing issue: Massachusetts faculty members are among the lowest paid in the country when compared to states with similar costs of living. This finding has strengthened the union’s case for increased pay and benefits. By pushing for higher salaries for educators at all levels, the MTA hopes to ensure that Massachusetts educators are compensated fairly for their work.
Last year, thousands of unionized teachers across the North Shore region of Massachusetts took to the streets to raise awareness about the lack of paid parental leave. While most workers in the state have access to the Paid Family and Medical Leave Program, municipal workers—including teachers—are not covered.
Page expressed that this exclusion is long overdue for change. “We believe that educators, who make up the lion’s share of those affected and are largely women, should have access to paid parental leave,” said Page. “That would take that issue off the table and prevent it from becoming a contentious point in negotiations across the state.”
In addition to advocating for paid parental leave, the MTA is focusing on securing funding to improve public services in Massachusetts. The union has been working to ensure that the funds raised through the Fair Share Amendment—over $2 billion so far—are used effectively to fund public transportation and education. The MTA is also working toward debt-free higher education in Massachusetts, advocating for affordable education opportunities not only at community colleges but for all levels of higher education across the state.
Another critical issue for the MTA is the state’s Chapter 70 funding formula. This formula dictates how the state allocates money to schools, and the union is calling for changes to ensure that funding keeps pace with inflation. According to the union, this adjustment is necessary to ensure that schools can provide a high-quality education despite rising costs.
Page emphasized that the MTA’s legislative priorities are aimed at making meaningful improvements for educators and students across Massachusetts. With the state’s educational system facing significant challenges, the union believes that their proposed changes will make a real difference in the quality of education and the working conditions for teachers and support staff.
The union has made it clear that they are committed to fighting for these changes in the coming legislative session. With salaries and paid leave at the forefront of their agenda, the MTA is focused on making sure that educators in Massachusetts are paid fairly and provided with the benefits they deserve. As the union continues to push for these changes, it is clear that the MTA is determined to secure a better future for both educators and students in the state.
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