Welcome University of Michigan Student and Instructional Services Staff to the Union!
More than 1800 student services and instructional services staff working across all three campuses of the University of Michigan have gained official recognition to become unionized with University Staff United, AFT Local 284, AFL-CIO. The union’s majority support was verified by a neutral third party under the University of Michigan Board of Regents cooperative framework for union organizing. “Today is an amazing day to be a U-M staff member,” said Rita Kwan-Hang Lee, University of Michigan admissions officer and USU president, “because today we, over a thousand signed USU members, organizers, and supporters, won recognition for University Staff United! Through USU we will finally push forward and implement the ideas we know will protect ourselves and the U-M community we foster against greedflation and political abuse.”
AFT Michigan proudly welcomes USU to our family, celebrating their hard-earned union recognition as a testament to their commitment to educational excellence at U of M. Together, we will champion the rights of workers and enhance the quality of education for all students.
Welcome MSU Extension Employees to the Union!
As of this morning, more than 400 MSU Extension employees who work in field offices across the state are officially represented by the Union of Non-Tenure Track Faculty (UNTF/AFT 1855)! Extension staff voted overwhelmingly to join UNTF in an election conducted by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission and now look forward to bargaining their first contract. Barslund Judd, a consumer horticulture educator in Genesee County captured the feelings of his fellow workers stating, “I’m really excited for the opportunity to move forward alongside my colleagues.. Extension spoke loud and clear. We are better and stronger together! ”
Great work by the Extension organizing committee as well as the leadership of UNTF and our staff, who have kept working together toward this goal for more than three years!
Support WMed Residents at Bronson & Borgess Hospitals
The Resident & Fellow Alliance (RFA) is fighting for a fair contract and needs your support to win the union contract that they deserve. Residents and Fellows are working to create better working conditions, including higher salaries, flexibility in time off, and fair educational stipends; unfortunately, negotiations have stalled and if progress is not made at the bargaining table, residents may be forced to strike in the near future.
Please sign this petition encouraging the WMed administration to abandon their stalling tactics and start working towards reaching a fair contract.
Protect Our Kids: March 4 Day of Action
We are calling on educators, parents, students, and community allies to:
- Mobilize locally to defend public schools and the vital services they provide to kids and families
- Urge federal representatives: Don’t cut kids for tax cuts – oppose education funding cuts and block grants.
- Push state leaders: Say NO to block grants and NO to cuts in federal aid for schools.
Check out events in your area by going to go.aft.org/volunteer. Not seeing an event near you yet? Take action and host an event in your community! Here’s how to take action:
- Organize a Local Event on March 4
- Plan a rally, teach-in, or press conference on March 4 to highlight the impact of these cuts.
- Partner with local organizations and community leaders to amplify your message.
- Download fliers, logos and signage.
- Contact Your Lawmakers
- Federal Action: Urge Congress to oppose block grants and education funding cuts—don’t cut kids for tax cuts. Share this letter!
- Share Your Story
- Collect and amplify real-life stories from students, parents, and educators to show how these cuts would hurt kids.
- Submit blog posts and writer stories for national amplification by emailing AFTvoices@aft.org
- Submit an op-ed to your local newspaper. Click here to download a sample op-ed.
- Submit video stories for national amplification through our campaign.
Be sure to register to host a “Protect Our Kids” event on March 4 so we have a full list of all the actions nationwide to protect public education.
Stop the Attacks on Medicaid
Last week, the Senate passed a budget with huge cuts to Medicaid and other key programs, in order to fund mass deportations. And this week, the House of Representatives will be voting on even bigger cuts to Medicaid to fund tax cuts for billionaires and pay for a new federal school voucher program. This is not an exaggeration; that’s their plan.
Congressional action will take center stage in the next few weeks. Please send a letter to your members of Congress opposing any cuts to Medicaid.
Inflation is going up, consumer confidence is going down, and Americans don’t think President Trump has done enough to lower the cost of everyday essentials. Yet the president’s allies in the House and Senate are proposing budgets that will make life harder for working people. And why? To find trillions for tax cuts for billionaires.
Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, student loans and more are all under attack—and we will fight any attempts to take funding away from kids and communities who simply want a chance to live the American dream. Americans, across party lines, are becoming wary of the priorities of this administration and the GOP Congress.
Cuts to Medicaid are deeply unpopular, and many House Republicans don’t want to vote for a bill that contains Medicaid cuts. Regardless of whether you’re in a blue, red or purple district, your representatives need to hear that Medicaid cuts are not acceptable.
There are 70 million people who get their healthcare through Medicaid. These cuts to Medicaid would mean many kids at our schools will lose access to dental care, doctor visits and more. They would mean some of our active cancer patients will have to stop treatment. They would mean seniors and people with disabilities will lose long-term care services—services often provided by AFT members. In addition to the impact on our students and patients, these cuts would mean the elimination of healthcare jobs.
Make the Call Tell House Speaker Johnson: NO to dismantling the U.S. Postal Service
The jobs of 640,000 U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employees are under attack. In a reported executive order, President Trump plans to fire the Postal Board of Governors and place the agency under the control of the Department of Commerce.
This is a direct attack on USPS employees, the unmatched universal service they provide and every citizen who relies on the Postal Service.
Please stand with letter carriers and all postal workers and make a call to House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Please make a call now to protect U.S. Postal Service workers’ jobs: 202-224-3121
WSU Free Seminar – Changes to MI Employment Laws – March 1
Please join the WSU Labor School on Saturday, March 1, 2025, to discuss MI Employment Laws and the recent changes that may affect MI workers. Learn about changes to paid sick leave, minimum wage, earn paid sick time, wage & hour, and workers’ compensation.
This seminar is free to the public. Please register here to attend with this link:
https://forms.wayne.edu/59a6d04e399fa
Free Michigan Labor Law Series – March 8
The Center is pleased to announce a free three-part symposium on the current state of Michigan Labor Law. All sessions will be on Zoom starting March 8, 2025.
Click here for more information.
Michigan Higher Education Labor Summit – March 15
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!
Upcoming Professional Development
AFT Michigan
The Face of Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) PreK-14
Saturday, March 1, 2025
8:30am – 4:00pm via Zoom
This workshop will explore strategies for addressing trauma and ACEs impact on the academic and social emotional growth of PreK-14 learners. Attendees will also have an opportunity to learn how students’ adversities can have negative effects upon professional staff well-being and productivity.
Click here to register
Enter for a Change to Win an Oura Ring
As busy educators, we know self-care often takes a back seat. That’s why, as part of our Virtual Conference, you can win one of three Oura wellness tracker rings—because your well-being matters just as much as your students’ success.
In solidarity,
Terrence Martin
President
