About Us
OUR MISSION
AFT Michigan promotes public education and healthcare, strengthens worker voice, advances the institutions in which our members work, and builds a progressive movement committed to achieving these goals.
AFT Michigan is the state organization of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO (AFT), our national union. Individual members belong to an AFT union local. Each union local is affiliated with AFT Michigan and the AFT.
AFT Michigan is a union of 35,000 educators and healthcare providers working in K-12 and intermediate school districts, community colleges, universities, and hospitals across the state. AFT Michigan is the state organization of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), our national union. Individual members belong to an AFT local union affiliated with AFT Michigan, AFT, and the AFL-CIO.
We are committed to working together with our communities to reclaim the promise of public education as our nation’s gateway to democracy and social justice. We believe that we are stronger together than as individuals and look forward to the day when all workers are empowered as members of strong and inclusive unions.
The foundation of AFT Michigan is strong local unions with informed and mobilized memberships. As a state federation, we are responsible for helping local leaders build strong unions and for connecting those locals into regional and statewide networks to work toward our shared goals.
Members make their voices heard on the state level by electing delegates to our biennial convention and by participating in various committees. Delegates to the biennial convention vote on policy, the goals and objectives for the state federation, and the President, Secretary-Treasurer and Administrative Board, who direct AFT Michigan operations between conventions.
AFT Michigan offers classes, workshops and conferences throughout the year offering members and leaders an opportunity to build community, master skills, and gain new knowledge. In addition, we provide in-depth training and development for teams of local leaders working on shared projects.
The AFT, AFT Michigan and our local unions are active participants in the AFL-CIO at the national, state and local levels. This labor network enhances our union’s ability to address issues important to our membership in local communities, the state legislature, and in Washington, D.C..
AFT Michigan Historical Timeline
1916
American Federation of Teachers formed in Chicago
1919
AFT lobbies Congress to give Howard University $1.5 million and support equal pay for African-American teachers
1931
Detroit Federation of Teachers chartered as AFT Local 231 (uniting separate men’s and women’s locals)
1935
Michigan Federation of Teachers is formed by locals from Detroit, Grand Rapids, University of Michigan, Kalamazoo, and Highland Park
In January 1935, Walter Bergman (Detroit FT, standing, 2nd from right) elected first MFT president
In May 1935, Arthur Elder (UM labor educator) elected MFT president (1935-1950)
1937
Michigan Teacher Tenure Act passed
1940
Michigan Teacher newspaper first published
1941
MFT fights to repeal “loyalty oath” requirement for educators (targeting Communists and other radicals)
1947
East Detroit teachers strike shuts down school district
Hutchinson Act passes (making striking illegal for public sector workers in Michigan)
1948
AFT stops chartering segregated locals
1951
MFT has 39 locals representing approximately 4,600 members
Jessie Baxter (Detroit) elected MFT president (1951-1961)
1954
AFT files an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs in Brown vs. Board of Education
1957
AFT expels all remaining segregated local unions that refuse to admit African-Americans
1961
Henry Linne (right; East Detroit) elected president (1961-1981)
1964
DFT wins representation election over DEA
1965
Hutchinson Act amended to establish public sector bargaining rights (renamed PERA)
1966
HFCCFT Local 1650 strikes for first contract
1970
MFT has 20 locals representing approximately 15,000 members
“Parochaid” (public money to private schools) ballot initiative defeated at the polls
1971
MFT and MEA discuss merger
1973
PERA amended to establish the right to bargain “agency fee” union security provisions
1974
University of Michigan Graduate Employees Organization formed
1980
MFT has 30 locals representing approximately 16,000 members
Yeshiva University Supreme Court decision eliminates bargaining rights for faculty at private colleges
1981
MERC affirms bargaining rights for graduate student teachers and staff (GEO finally able to bargain a new contract with UM)
Hugh Jarvis (right; East Detroit; 1981-1996) elected president in first contested MFT election; appoints Rollie Hopgood (left; Taylor) as assistant
1986
MFT opens Grayling office and launches northern organizing efforts
1992
MFT changes name to Michigan Federation of Teachers & School Related Personnel
1993
Charter school enabling legislation passes
1994
PA 112 amends PERA (increased strike penalties and prohibits bargaining privatization of non-instructional staff)
1995
Proposal A transforms how Michigan funds schools – from local property taxes to a statewide formula
MFT & SRP opens new building at 2661 E. Jefferson in Detroit
1996
Rollie Hopgood (Taylor) elected president; appoints David Hecker as assistant
1998
WSU-GEOC organizes (kicking off a decade of MFT & SRP higher ed organizing)
MEA-MFT “no raid” partnership agreement signed
1999
WSU faculty & staff AAUP local jointly affiliates with AFT
2000
MFT & SRP has 90 locals representing approximately 26,000 members
Ballot initiative proposing “vouchers” (public money for private schools) is defeated
2001
David Hecker elected president of MFT & SRP
2005
MFT & SRP changes name to AFT Michigan
2010
AFT Michigan has 99 locals representing approximately 22,000 members
2011
Teachers at the Arts Academy in the Woods charter school organize to form the first chapter of the Michigan Alliance of Charter Teachers & Staff, AFT Local 6482
Teacher Tenure Act amended to remove “just cause” protection
PERA amended to prohibit teachers from bargaining evaluation, layoff & recall, and discipline & discharge
2012
Cap on charter schools in Michigan eliminated
In response to GEO organizing drive at UM, legislature prohibits collective bargaining by graduate research assistants
PERA amended to prohibit agency fee agreements (RTW) and K-12 dues deduction
2013
MEA-AFT Michigan Partnership Agreement signed (extended into a Merger Exploratory Committee in 2015)
2018
AFT Michigan has 93 locals representing approximately 27,000 members
2020
Physician assistants at UM hospital organize the first healthcare local within AFT Michigan (UPAMM)
2023
