1650 Turns 60!
The Henry Ford Community College Federation of Teachers, AFT 1650, celebrated its 60th anniversary with a wonderful gala this weekend. HFCCFT has been a trailblazing union — both the first college faculty bargaining unit in the nation to go on strike and our first AFT higher education local in Michigan. Speakers at the gala highlighted the deep community and political connections of the local, with tributes from Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, and AFT President Randi Weingarten. Several speakers highlighted the legacy of longtime local president John McDonald, including AFT Michigan President Emeritus David Hecker and current 1650 President Eric Rader. Congratulations and thank you to all the past and current 1650 members who have done so much for the college and the Dearborn community.
EMUFT Local 9102 Celebration Of Lecturers
Combining officer elections with a celebration of the excellent work lecturers do at Eastern Michigan University has become a spring tradition for EMUFT 9102. Edna Awards are handed out to lecturers who have been nominated by their colleagues for things like uplifting students, community work, labor activism and colleague support. For those unfamiliar with Edna the Emu, she is the EMUFT mascot. The evening concluded with a bingo game where the grand prize was a free Edna stuffy. Congratulations to the new officers and all the hard working award winners at Local 9102.
Michigan Nurses Association Lobby Day – April 15
The Michigan Nurses Association has been rallying across the state taking collective action for fair contracts – because nurses’ work conditions are patients’ care conditions!
Join MNA in solidarity at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 15, show hospital executives that nurses and our communities want people – not profits – to be the bottom line.
See details and rsvp here: minurses.org/weekofaction
Workers Memorial Day – April 28
May Day Detroit – May 1
On May Day, Detroit’s unions and their allies will celebrate International Worker’s Day.
Join the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO on Friday, May 1, at Roosevelt Park in Detroit, at 4pm. Everyone is welcome to this celebration of our history!
Follow this YouTube link for a 2-minute history of this important event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6Dx2WRHvtc
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!
Celebrating 40 Years of Union Plus
Union Plus doesn’t turn 40 every day . . . So they are celebrating with BIG prizes for hard-working union members! One $4,000 Grand Prize. Forty $400 winners. Plus, more giveaways along the way.
Enter by May 6! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. See rules and enter at unionplus.org/fortyyears.
April is Arab American Heritage Month—a time to recognize and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Arab Americans in the United States. Share My Lesson invites educators, parents, and caregivers to explore a curated collection of free lesson plans, classroom activities, and teaching resources that bring Arab American voices and stories into learning spaces.
This collection features high-quality, classroom-ready resources from trusted partners like Re-Imagining Migration and StoryCorps, including:
- Lesson plans exploring Arab American history, identity, and immigration experiences
- Interactive storytelling activities with first-person narratives
- Multimedia resources highlighting Arab American culture, traditions, and contributions
https://sharemylesson.com/collections/arab-american-heritage-month
In solidarity,
Terrence Martin
President
