University Staff United & Union Allies turn out in Freezing Temperature to Fight for Fair Wages
I was proud to join a great group of members of University Staff United, AFT Local 284, and our union allies who turned out in droves in below freezing temperatures for a picket at the University of Michigan winter commencement Sunday over stalled contract negotiations. Management’s proposed 3% yearly salary increase for the Ann Arbor campus and 1% yearly salary increase for the Dearborn and Flint campuses has been roundly rejected by USU. Not only is the overall proposal unacceptable, management has refused to address the plight of the lowest-paid USU members, including a large group of early childhood educators who work at the University’s Children’s Centers. Staff, faculty, and community allies turned out to make our voices heard and add pressure to management to pay its employees a dignified wage. Watch CBS News video coverage of the event here and read about the picket in the Michigan Daily here and in the Michigan Advance here. Thank you to everyone who joined USU on the picket line and all the union allies who came out to support USU’s fight for fair wages!
If you were not able to join us out on the picket line yesterday (or even if you could!), please send a letter on behalf of USU staff supporting their fight for fair wages.
AFT Michigan Collective Bargaining Conference – Jan 24
Join us for AFT Michigan’s Collective Bargaining Conference on January 24th at Fairlane Center South from 9:00-3:30! We’ll be honoring AFT Michigan’s immediate past General Counsel, Mark Cousens, with an opening conversation “ Collective Bargaining in Michigan: Looking Back, Looking Forward”. The day will then split into two tracks: an introductory course to collective bargaining and workshops focused on bargaining issues and strategies. We encourage bargaining team members and those involved with collective bargaining and contract campaigns at their locals to attend. Learn more about the sessions and register here today!
What is All the Buzz About Nursing No Longer Being Designated as a Professional Program?
Wondering what the proposal is to no longer classify nursing, social work & education as professional degrees means?
Read this explainer from AFT President Randi Weingarten, Aissa Canchola Bañez of Protect Borrowers and Puneet Maharaj of National Nurses United, on what students and borrowers need to know about the U.S. Department of Education’s new proposed definition of professional degrees and what YOU could do to push back.
Help Us Identify the Most Urgent Affordability Issues
This short survey will take only a few minutes and will help us identify the most urgent affordability issues, whether it’s medical debt, rising healthcare premiums or the cost of housing. Your answers will help us shape the resources we build and the work we take on to help members get the relief they need.
Please take just a few minutes before the Jan. 2 deadline to complete the survey.
AFT Webinar, Wednesday, December 16: Supporting Mental Wellness Through Inclusive, Connected Workplaces
Join AFT this Wednesday, December 16 at 6 pm for a powerful Vital Lessons webinar: Supporting Mental Wellness Through Inclusive, Connected Workplaces.
You’ll hear from AFT President Randi Weingarten, Dr. Vin Gupta, Laurie VanderPloeg of the Council for Exceptional Children, and Lia Council, a high school special education teacher, as they share insights and strategies for building inclusive cultures that support every student and staff member.
This session is part ofAFT’s Vital Lessons webinar series, bringing timely, trusted and practical conversations on health, wellness and community care.
Join SEIU Local 1 as They Rally for a Signed Contract
Local 1 janitors fought hard and won a fair new collective bargaining agreement through good-faith negotiations. Harvard Maintenance was at the table and agreed to the terms. However, they are now refusing to sign the very contract they negotiated, putting workers’ livelihoods and stability at risk.
Members clean and maintain some of Detroit’s most prominent buildings, including the Bedrock portfolio. They deserve respect, accountability, and for employers to honor their commitments.
To demand that Harvard do the right thing, Local 1 is holding a rally and press conference:
Outside One Campus Martius (Compuware)
Wednesday, December 17
4:30 PM
Campus Martius, Detroit
AFT Healthcare Professional Issues Conference – April 13-15 in Detroit!
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!
Happy Holidays from AFT Michigan
In this final email of the calendar year, I’d like to wish you all a wonderful holiday season. Our offices will be closed December 22-January 2. I hope you’re all able to spend some time with your family and friends and enter the new year recharged.
Union Made Gifting
It’s that time of year! No matter what you celebrate or how, we know many of you are looking for that perfect gift for your friends and family. And we’d like to suggest—in what has become our annual tradition— a gifting union made.
We’ve expanded our gift guide this year. In addition to the usual assortment of delicious union-made food and drinks, toys and games, and more, we also have gifts for big spenders. Gifts that you can make at home, with union products! Gifts for those who’d rather have an experience. Find that perfect gift, from stocking stuffers to sports equipment to a unique book or theater performance.
Best of all, you can feel proud knowing your gifts are made by workers who stood together for family-supporting wages and good benefits. Supporting union-made goods will help workers and communities across the country—you are essentially voting “Union Yes” with your wallet.
It’s a big comprehensive guide, and it’s all here, so we hope this will be your one-stop shopping list this holiday season. We’ll make your gift-giving easy, and you can support union members with your hard-earned dollars—it’s a win-win!
Check out our Union-Made Holiday Gift Guide here.
In solidarity,
Terrence Martin
President
