May 13, 2019
RSVP Today For #RedForEd Funding Rallies!
We’re joining forces with the Michigan Education Association to hold rallies on June 18 and 25 at the Michigan Capitol Building to demand the Michigan Legislature invest in our students, educators, schools, colleges, and universities.
Why? Because Governor Whitmer proposed a bold budget, upping the state’s budget for PreK-16 education by more than half a billion dollars. But Republican leaders in Lansing are proposing budgets which barely keep up with inflation — if at all.
Whitmer Appoints Five AFT Members to Educators Advisory Council
Governor Whitmer appointed five AFT Michigan members to her newly created fifteen member Educators Advisory Council. This Council will advise the Governor on PreK-12 education issues. Appointed are Zeinab Chami, Dearborn Federation of Teachers; Anne Markey, MI Alliance of Charter Teaches and Staff (Boggs School); Lisa Rivard, WSU Union of Part-Time Faculty; Marcus Walton, Detroit Federation of Teachers; and Jeff Whittle, Macomb ISD Federation of Paraprofessionals. Congratulations to all and thank you to everyone who applied.
AFT Michigan’s Voice in Detroit News
Last week the Detroit News published an editorial from me and Sandy Baruah, President of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, in support of Governor Whitmer’s proposed Michigan Opportunity and Michigan Reconnect programs that will increase access to post-secondary education. Today, the Detroit News printed an article from me and Tashaune Harden in response to a previous op ed about unions and charter schools that failed to note the anti-union positioning of many charter school private companies.
Please read those articles here:
Hemlock Auxiliary Service Employees Award Scholarship
Hemlock Auxiliary Service Employees, AFT 3509 awarded a $500.00 Scholarship to Jonas Kanouse who is graduating this year from Hemlock Public Schools. Jonas’ mother is paraprofessional and AFT Michigan member who has been with the district for 9 years.
Upcoming Professional Development
The Bully Mindset Shift PreK-12
Saturday, June 1, 2019
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
AFT Michigan office
This workshop will provide strategies to change Bully from a noun to a verb. Participants will be introduced to activities that focus on changing the behavior/mindset of those individuals who bully.
Click here to register.
In Solidarity,
David Hecker
President
