Issues Statement

We believe the work of a strong union also includes promoting and enhancing public education and public services. To that end AFT Michigan maintains a strong presence in Lansing. The laws and regulations governing every member's terms and conditions of employment are passed by lawmakers and implemented by government agencies. AFT Michigan lobbies for bills to improve state aid to schools and colleges and universities, licensure, education standards, health care, retirement and other issues affecting members.

The AFT represents the interests of our members in the national, political and legislative arenas, and is on the national forefront of developing and advancing education policies.

Legislative Agenda

Quality Education

We believe the Legislature can improve the quality of education by enacting laws that:

• Reduce class size, especially in early grades.
• Fairly and effectively implement academic standards with high, yet realistic goals for all students.
• Promote school readiness for all children starting school.
• Maintain cap on expansion of university chartered public school academies and ensure their compliance with state law and fair evaluation standards.
• Advocate a safe learning environment with alternative programs for disruptive students.
• Foster full parental participation in their children's education.
• Encourage and facilitate life-long learning for Michigan residents.

We believe the Legislature should furnish funding that:

• Provides for sufficient, stable and equitable financial resources for Pre K-12 and higher education, and holds employers accountable for how this money is spent.
• Creates a statewide method to build, repair, and modernize schools, and makes them environmentally safe and healthy.
• Equips every classroom with 21st century technology.
• Ensures comprehensive at-risk, special education, and early intervention services for students.
• Provides for professional development to maintain state of the art instruction.
• Provides statewide access to affordable higher education for everyone.
• Reinstates education of adult students.

We believe the Legislature must honor employees by enacting laws that:

• Maintain quality, affordable health care and pensions to attract and retain well qualified personnel.
• Support and encourage an economy where good-paying jobs are available for new employees and secure for those currently employed.
• Protect public employees' rights to collectively bargain for wages, benefits, and working conditions (repeal Public Act 112, 1994).
• Abolish employee out-sourcing and privatization.
• Require qualified health professionals in our schools to furnish necessary medical care and assistance to students.
• Reverse the trend to part-time instructors in community colleges and universities to ensure highly qualified and accessible faculty.