Don’t Miss Today’s Town Hall on Measles
With cases of the measles rising, our communities face a preventable public health crisis. Join Dr. Vin Gupta, AFT President Randi Weingarten and Dr. Benjamin Hoffman for a live, interactive town hall to discuss the outbreak’s impact and what you and your members need to know. The webinar will be this Monday, March 24, at 5:30 p.m. EDT. It’s the first event in our “Vital Lessons: Health Chats with Dr. Vin Gupta” series designed to give our communities actionable health insights. Register Now!
Ask Governor Whitmer to Sign Legislation that Lowers Healthcare Costs for Public Employees
HB 6058 sponsored by Rep. Xiong (D, Warren) increases the amount that public employers pay toward their employees’ medical benefit plans and reduces costs for workers. Court of Appeals Judge Sima Patel ruled that according to the Michigan Constitution which states, “Every bill passed by the Legislature shall be presented to the governor before it becomes law, and the governor shall have 14 days to decide whether to sign or veto it.” All nine bills have been ordered to be released to the Governor. Now we need your help in advocating that the Governor sign HB 6058 and bring down healthcare costs for workers.
Please send a letter to the Governor asking her to sign HB 6058 when it reaches her desk.
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.
Why do we fight? Opportunity for all kids
The Trump administration released an executive order on Wednesday, and President Donald Trump signed it yesterday, attempting to eliminate the federal role in education—a move that most people in America don’t want because it would diminish opportunity for students. As a union of educators, healthcare professionals and public employees, we know the importance of ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive—and that’s why AFT President Randi Weingarten responded simply by saying: “See you in court.
AFT Sues U.S. Department of Education, Demands Justice for Student Loan Borrowers Blocked from Affordable Loan Payments
The AFT sued the U.S. Department of Education for effectively breaking the student loan system, denying borrowers’ access to affordable loan payments and blocking progress toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness in violation of federal law. “The new administration seems intent on making life harder for working people, including for millions of borrowers who have taken on student debt so they can go to college,” AFT President Randi Weingarten said. “The former president tried to fix the system for 45 million Americans, but the new president is breaking it again.”
Did you try to apply for an income-driven repayment plan for your federal student loans after Feb. 21 but were blocked because the application had been removed from the Department of Education website? AFT wants to hear how the Trump administration processing pause has affected you. Please take a moment to share your story at https://go.aft.org/DebtJourney. Your responses will help inform our fight for justice for student loan borrowers.
April 17 Webinar: Navigating Attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In the past few years, campuses across the country have faced increasing pressure from extremist forces aimed at limiting or reshaping diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as challenging the boundaries of campus free speech and academic freedom. These challenges have created a complex and often contentious environment, with members seeking assistance on how to navigate the often-vague changes. The AFT will unpack it all on April 17 in “Navigating the Attacks on America’s Classrooms and the Freedom to Learn,” a one-hour webinar that will also address ongoing attacks by the new administration. Register here.
Join us for this energizing professional learning event that offers an inspiring and collaborative experience for presenters and attendees alike; the conference is filled with timely strategies and practical resources you can take back to your school for a successful year ahead.
- Participate in energizing, interactive sessions focused on the real challenges educators face every day;
- Learn practical, classroom-ready strategies designed to boost student engagement and improve learning outcomes;
- Return to school recharged with new ideas that will ignite inspiration in both your students and colleagues; and
- Build authentic connections with colleagues nationwide to exchange ideas, resources and support.
AFT union activists in the government sector will gather in Denver to share best practices and fight back strategies in the midst of the second Trump administration. In a time of disruption and chaos, our union solidarity and strength are key to building the labor movement and tackling the serious challenges public workers face today. Workshops on Organizing, Activism and Leadership will be offered throughout the conference. Join us!
Register for the Michigan School for Women Workers — all are welcome!
The Michigan School for Women Workers is coming April 24-27 to the Somerset Inn in Troy, Michigan. With ten different workshops there is something for everyone.
For more information, to register online, and to find jpegs of the flyer go to: https://clcs.umd.umich.edu/upcoming-events/2025-michigan-school-for-women-workers.
Celebrating Women’s History Month
From civil rights to arts and culture to science and technology, this lesson collection has cross-curricular resources for teaching core subjects through the enduring contributions of women.
Click here to view Share My Lesson’s Collections on Women’s History Lesson Plans.
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
