Jessica Tang for AFT MA President
Experienced union leader:
At the Boston Teachers Union, Jessica Tang has spearheaded a number of important initiatives, programs and structural changes to strengthen the BTU and our collective power.
Negotiated three master contracts and dozens of MOU’s, including four during the Covid pandemic
Transformed our negotiations to include more democratic processes and open bargaining, including increased engagement from thousands of members and community partners. Implemented silent representatives and increased our Bargaining for the Common Good.
Co founded the Boston Education Justice Alliance, MA Education Justice Alliance and spearheaded the defeat of Question 2 in Boston with coalition partners and community partners. Subsequently fought with our coalitions for the Student Opportunities Act and Fair Share Amendment.
Founded the BTU Back to School Fair and Lunar New Year event, and supported the member-led establishment of new, inclusive events including the Educator Diversity Night and Kwanzaa celebration.
Established a number of new, active committees that engage BTU members in issues they are most passionate about. This also includes the New Educators Committee to better support our early career educators and engage young workers in our union.
Jessica Tang is the President of the Boston Teachers Union, representing over 10,000 active and retired educators. She is the first person of color, first openly queer and first woman in over thirty years to serve in this role. She is a co-founder of the Teacher Activist Group-Boston, Boston Education Justice Alliance and MA Education Justice Alliance, and serves as a board member for several civic and labor groups including Citizens for Public Schools, Private Industry Council, Boston Partners in Education, Parent Teacher Home Visit Project and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. She also the first and only Asian American member to serve on the American Federation of Teachers Executive Council. Jessica serves as a Vice President of both the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and American Federation of Teachers-Massachusetts, and is a former co-chair of the Massachusetts Asian-American Educators Association. She is also currently serving on the United States Commission on Civil Rights Massachusetts State Advisory Council and served a three-year term on the New England Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve. As a teacher-activist, she has been involved in many different community organizations that are working to advance racial, social and economic justice. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Harvard University and holds an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
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