WMed Residents Plan Picket During ‘State of the Medical School’
On Tuesday, February 11, from 5:30-6:30 pm, residents and fellow physicians at the Homer Stryker School of Medicine at Western Michigan University (WMed) will launch an informational picket during the annual WMed State of the Medical School event (Bronson Park – 200 S Rose St – Kalamazoo) to raise awareness over the lack of progress in contract negotiations.
Organized as the Resident & Fellow Alliance (RFA), the union is working to create a voice for residents and fellows at Bronson and Borgess hospitals. RFA is affiliated with AFT Michigan/AFT/AFL-CIO and is working to create better working conditions, including higher salaries, flexibility in time off, and fair educational stipends. If progress is not made at the bargaining table, residents may be forced to strike in the near future, but are taking this first step of picketing in order to make their voices heard.
Workplace Leaders Building Union Leadership Skills Across the State
Over 50 workplace leaders across the state came together for a week of learning and leadership development at our Union Building Institute (UBI) last week. Building representatives, department stewards, and union members shared strategies for organizing members, contract enforcement, and ways they’ve worked to connect and keep members engaged with their local.
Congratulations to the following workplace leaders who completed all four UBI sessions including Workplace Leader 101, Contract Enforcement 101, Using Lists and Maps to Organize, and The One-on-One Conversation!
- Anna Cwalina, Jennifer Jones, Lyle Turner, and Monika Davies (Van Dyke Professional Personnel, Local 6199)
- Kathryn Jenkins (Macomb ISD Federation of Teachers, Local 2144)
- Tracie Diggins (Detroit Federation of Teachers, Local 231)
Stay tuned for our next round of UBI! Local leaders can reach out to Meenakshi Mukherjee (mmukherjee@aftmichigan.org) with questions about workplace leadership development programs. Thanks to everyone who participated and for the work you do everyday to build strong unions!
Its Time for Speaker Hall to Follow the Constitution, Present Bills to Governor
In response to the news that Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit against House Speaker Matt Hall for not following the Michigan Constitution by failing to present the bills passed at the end of the last legislative session, Terrence Martin, president of AFT Michigan, issued the following statement:
“Our state Constitution is crystal clear about the fact that all bills the legislature passes must be presented to the governor for signature. House Speaker Matt Hall is failing to uphold this duty, so we’re thankful for Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and the Democratic Caucus, who are taking legal action to ensure he does his job. The labor community in Michigan remains hopeful that these bills will make their way to the governor, and we stand ready to support legal briefs affirming the Senate’s protection of Michigan workers and families.”
Donate to Help Sharif’s Mom and WSU Students
On January 8, 2025, Sharif AliDinar, a Wayne State University graduate and employee, and member of the Wayne Academic Union, AFT 6075, was waiting for a green light to cross the street when a man travelling 40 mph faster than the speed limit decided to run a red light. The speeder struck another vehicle, then struck and killed Sharif instantly.
The Wayne State family gathered in overwhelming numbers to show their love and support for Sharif at his funeral. Sharif’s obituary can be found at:
https://www.spauldingcurtin.com/obituaries/Sharif-Abdelgelil-AliDinar
Sharif was a diligent volunteer and advocate of anyone who was experiencing a challenging situation. Sharif’s mother has set up a gofundme to continue his mission of helping Wayne State University’s students undergoing hardships and emergency situations. Sharif was a fan of Spock on Star Trek, and liked to say: “Live life in service to God and others before it is your time to beam up.”
If you would like to donate go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-sharifs-mom-and-wsu-students
Black History Month Lesson Plans and Resources
Are your students familiar with Bayard Rustin, Coretta Scott King or Shirley Chisholm? Check out this lesson collection, inspired by this year’s theme: African Americans and Labor. Teaching about Black History is an essential and important part of any history curriculum and an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Black people throughout history, and also serves as an opportunity to acknowledge and learn about the struggles and injustices of the past and present. By incorporating these lessons into our curriculum, we not only acknowledge the diversity of our society, but also gain a deeper understanding of our shared history and the ways in which it has shaped our world today.
Review sample resources from AFT Share My Lesson curriculum-spanning collection of free preK-12 lesson plans and activities, then begin your lesson planning here.
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!
In solidarity,
Terrence Martin
President
