AFT Michigan at Metro Detroit Labor Day March
We had a great turnout at this year’s Labor Day March on a beautiful day in Detroit. We were honored to be joined by our national AFT Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus, our partners from the MEA, and AFT Michigan leaders from as far away as Kalamazoo as we hit the streets in solidarity. If you didn’t make it, mark your calendar to join us next year!
Michigan’s Students Can’t Wait While Republicans Play Games With Our Schools
Read my op-ed in the Detroit MetroTimes discussing why Michigan educators and families can’t wait; Lawmakers must pass a fully-funded, equitable state budget now!
AFT Michigan Fall Leadership Summit – September 27
AFT Michigan’s Fall Leadership Summit will take place on September 27th, 8:30am-3:30 PM, at Fairlane South, UM-Dearborn. We’ll be joined by Todd Wolfson, AAUP President, to discuss partnering for power in our workplaces. There will be three tracks to select from when registering:
1. Leadership Team Planning
The Leadership Team Planning track consists of an AM constituency committee meeting (Higher Ed, Healthcare, and PreK-12) and a PM session focused on setting goals and priorities for the upcoming year. Local teams will have an opportunity to meet with AFT Michigan staff specialists and hear about resources and tools as well as ask questions to support their local’s planning.
Leaders should register for this track if they are a local president, vice president, data administrator, contract enforcement coordinator, political coordinator, executive board member, or other local officer.
2. Workplace Leader Skill Building
Our Workplace Leader Skills Building track is for department stewards, building reps, and local activists ready to dive into using lists and maps to organize colleagues, understanding effective tools for communication at the workplace, and becoming skilled at the 1:1 organizing conversation.
We’re excited to offer this 1-day version of our popular Union Building Institute (UBI). This is a great opportunity to develop leaders at your locals who are excited about building a stronger union starting at their workplaces! We recommend sending a group of workplace leaders to go through this track together.
3. AFT Michigan’s Retiree Network Activists never retire!
AFT Michigan’s Retiree Network will be holding their September meeting at Leadership Summit. Retirees are welcome to join us for breakfast starting at 8:30 with the general retiree network meeting starting at 10:40 AM and lunch afterwards!If you have any questions about the Fall Leadership Summit, please contact your Field Rep or Meenakshi Mukherjee (mmukherjee@aftmichigan.org). Learn more and Register on aftmichigan.org/events.
AFT Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Conference, October 10-12 in Detroit!
As the threats of fascism, authoritarianism and political violence intensify across the U.S., the urgency for action has never been clearer. In the face of book bans, anti-democratic policies, and attacks on historically marginalized communities, educators and unions must once again rise as democracy’s first responders.
The 2025 AFT Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Conference marks a critical turning point. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, we recognize this moment as the first major national inflection point to turn the tide on policy, reclaim public institutions, and push back against the growing infrastructure of repression. This conference will equip AFT locals with the tools to meet that moment head-on—with strategy, solidarity, and a commitment to long-term power-building.
Participants will engage through three core training tracks that reflect the challenges and opportunities of this moment:
- Communications Training—Disrupting disinformation and reclaiming public narrative, by use of social media tools
- Political Training—Advancing democracy at the ballot box and building durable civic power
- MOVE (Mobilize. Organize. Vote. Empower.) Training—for grassroots resistance, cross-sector coalition-building, and union-based movement work
Click here to register for the 2025 AFT Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Conference.
‘No Kings Day’ – Saturday, Oct. 18
As the Trump administration escalates its attacks on our rights, including our basic civil rights and our rights to vote and to govern ourselves, millions are rising up again to say: “No Kings.” On Saturday, Oct. 18, the growing No Kings movement will take to the streets once more to demand dignity, defend our communities and reject authoritarianism in all its forms.
AFT Michigan Professional Development Workshop
See and Teach Me
September 13, 2025
8:30am – 4:00pm
AFT Michigan
2661 E. Jefferson
Detroit, MI 48207
This in-service is designed to support educators through research and strategies to move the learning environment to become more humane, where students can thrive both academically and socially-emotionally.
Participants will receive 6 SCECHs after completion.
Click here to register
9/11 A Day of Service: Sweepstakes and Resources
Get ideas for honoring the events and people of 9/11 through acts of service. Learn about the 9/11 Day movement, introduce student-led service projects, and model civic responsibility in your classroom.
Take ThisFREE Online Safety Training – Sept 24
Cyber safety and security training can help you increase your security awareness about online threats, equipping you to protect your personal information online and help respond to digital crises. This outstanding training will provide specific tools and tips to defend against digital threats, as well as provide action steps and insights on how you can increase your privacy both online and offline. This free evening training will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Register now.
Contribute to the AFT Michigan PAC Today
AFT Michigan fights for our members, students, patients and communities all year round and we need your help. Can you donate $1 a week to aid us in this fight? Please visit the AFT Michigan website to contribute and make a big difference in protecting public education and building a better Michigan future!
In solidarity,
Terrence Martin
President
