2023 Bargaining Conference
AFT Michigan leaders came together this past Saturday for a day of skill-building and discussion around contract negotiations. PreK-12 teacher locals participated in a day-long session covering recent legislative changes impacting bargaining previously prohibited subjects including dues deduction, subcontracting, teacher placement, and discipline and discharge, including reviewing and assessing their own contracts in order to prepare proposals on these subjects.
Other locals participated in our day-long bargaining simulation where they practiced their negotiation skills and worked hard to get deals at the table. Locals walked away with a better understanding of the process of collective bargaining from planning and preparation to building power.
PreK-12 teacher participants after a productive day of working through the guide to the “2022-23 Legislative Changes that Impact Negotiations for AFT Michigan Locals”
Bargaining simulation teams passing over proposals and taking on some tough managers. All smiles after getting some great deals for their members!
PIO Increases Wages for WMU Part-Time Faculty
Big congratulations to the Professional Instructors Organization (PIO, AFT Local 1903) bargaining team, who just negotiated a historic raise in their wage reopener negotiations with Western Michigan University. Starting next semester, part-time instructor pay will increase from $1050 to $1190 per credit hour. Next fall, base pay will increase again to $1265 per credit – a cumulative raise of over 20%! In addition, the team negotiated bonuses for this semester and for those who achieve Instructor II status. The fight for a fair salary at WMU is far from over, and union leaders are already looking to build on this win leading up to their full contract negotiations in 2025.
AFT Healthcare Professional Issues Conference Celebrates Code Red Success
AFT Michigan members from UM were among the health professionals also gathered at their professional issues conference in Baltimore Nov. 16-18. During three days of workshops, panels and vibrant discussions, the AFT conference became a stage for change. From the success of the Code Red campaign to strategies for legislative advocacy, the conference highlighted the resilience, determination and unity of healthcare professionals fighting for a better, safer future.
International Workers Caucus Meeting – Dec. 11
Join fellow international workers to discuss challenges of being a visa holder in the workplace. Join us and build a space for community, conversation, and action around immigration issues for international workers. Monthly meetings will be held on the 2nd Monday of each month, starting Monday December 11, at 5pm EST. RSVP here: https://forms.gle/xDAr3jLxzs3wsJS28
Happy Holidays from AFT Michigan Locals
Happy Holidays from Lake Shore Federation of Teachers
Warren Woods Paraprofessionals celebrating solidarity and membership sign-up.
Michigan Teacher of the Year Reviewers Needed
The Office of Educator Excellence is looking for reviewers for the 2024-25 Michigan Teacher of the Year application process.
The review period will be from Monday, December 18, 2023, through Friday, January 12, 2024. On December 18 reviewers will receive an emailed packet of applications for review and a rubric for scoring purposes. Scores will be entered into an online form that also contains space for comments on each application. The scores will be used to determine which applicants advance to Part B and the comments made available to the applicants upon their request. No reviewer names will be attached to comments shared with applicants.
Each reviewer will be tasked with evaluating 20 applications. Each application consists of up to eight (8), double-spaced pages of responses to four (4) separate prompts. Individual reviews will take approximately 1.5-2 hours. Please note, reviewers should evaluate educators based only on the materials provided and should not seek additional information on candidates through other means.
If you would like to lend your assistance and be a reviewer, please email Tara Totten at TottenT@Michigan.gov. If you do not receive a follow-up email with review documents by Monday, December 18 at 5pm, please email Tara Totten at TottenT@Michigan.gov so that your email address can be verified.
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—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.
Upcoming Webinar: Helpful Tips for Newcomer Immigrant Students – December 14
You’re invited to join AFT’s Share My Lesson for a free, for-credit webinar, “Newcomer Immigrant Students: Helpful PreK-12 Tips for What to Do First,” on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. EST.
Many schools throughout the country are enrolling newcomer English language learners (ELLs) for the first time, or do not have enough specialized English as a second language or bilingual certified teachers to work with this group of students
Join the AFT, Share My Lesson and Colorín Colorado to hear from expert practitioners about the particular needs of newcomer ELLs and to get tips, resources and strategies you can use right away to help ELLs adjust to their new surroundings successfully.
Upcoming Webinar: Dimensions to Wellness Self-Care for Educators – January 24
Join AFT’s Share My Lesson for this free webinar to support your health and well-being, part of our 2024 Wellness Series.
Dimensions to Wellness is a valuable and research-based training program designed to cater to the holistic well-being of educators. This webinar is a unique opportunity for educators to explore and enhance their mental, physical, and emotional health.
During this hour-long session, participants will delve into their own self-care practices, gaining insights to become more intentional about their wellness journey. The program covers a range of topics, including an assessment of current health, understanding circadian rhythms, exploring eight wellness indicators and their impact on overall well-being, and even delving into the concept of chakras.
Note: Each webinar in this Wellness Series is a stand-alone professional development webinar; you can watch one or all and in any particular order that suits your needs. Register now.
2 Great Opportunities to Understand Recent Pro-Union NLRB Decisions
The Center for Labor & Community Studies is pleased to share two upcoming events that explain how recent landmark decisions by the National Labor Relations Board improve worker protections and make it easier to organize a Union. Whether you’re an organizer, committee leader, steward, or rank-and-file activist, these are events that you don’t want to miss!
In-Person Symposium of the Cemex Case
Where: IBEW Local 58 (1358 Abbott Street, Detroit MI 48226)
Date/Time: Wednesday, December 13th from 5PM – 7PM (EST)
This free event by Miller Cohen, PLC will deep-dive into the changes brought on by the recent Cemex case, an NLRB case that predominantly affected union organizing efforts and union membership, and similar decisions. The two speakers include Atty. Richard G. Mack, Jr. and Atty. Robert D. Fetter, who are both on the General Counsel for Metro-Detroit AFL-CIO. There’s only limited space for this event, so make sure to register by December 7th! You can do so by contacting amack@millercohen.com or calling (313) 964-4454.
Online Symposium on Union Organizing & the Law
Zoom Link: https://umich.zoom.us/j/9880750133
Date/Time: Saturday, December 16 from 10AM – 12PM (EST)
Meeting ID: 988 075 0133
The University of Michigan – Dearborn’s Center for Labor & Community Studies is hosting this free online symposium on Saturday, December 16, from 10AM-12PM EST. Labor organizations scored several legal victories this year, especially regarding the rights to organize new unions. Join us for an expert panel discussion about recent National Labor Relations Board decisions and how they can be best implemented. This symposium includes presentations from the panelists followed by a Q&A portion for attendees.
Contribute to the AFT Michigan PAC Today
AFT Michigan fights for our members, students 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
