WMed Resident Physicians Ratify First Contract
A huge congratulations to the members of the Resident and Fellow Alliance (RFA), AFT Local 5157, who ratified their first contract with a vote of 157-0! The ratification of this contract prevents a strike that was scheduled to begin today. This contract provides a robust framework for the current and next two academic years with guaranteed wage increases, improved benefits, and many improvements to working conditions for these members, who work at Borgess and Bronson hospitals in Kalamazoo. Great work by the entire RFA leadership team and the staff from AFT Michigan and AFT!
AFT Michigan Budget Briefing: Sat, April 26 at 9 AM
Join AFT Michigan for a state budget briefing on April 26, from 9 am-noon over Zoom. Leaders will walk away with a clear understanding of the budget process, where we are in this budget cycle, and how we can help advocate for our members and communities in Lansing this spring. Come hear from AFT Michigan’s Political & Legislative Coordinator and state legislators about how our unions can fight and lobby to ensure our state government invests in the work we do and the communities we serve every day. Register here today!
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. Every day that these bills are not signed into law means real harm to Michigan families.
Education Department to Restore Income-Driven Repayment Applications
Less than 24 hours after the AFT filed a motion seeking emergency court intervention on March 25, the Department of Education said that it would make income-driven repayment applications available again. Despite this commitment, the department will not immediately begin processing income-driven repayment applications, as more than 1 million borrowers remain in limbo and unable to invoke their rights to affordable loan payments. AFT President Randi Weingarten says the announcement shows the power of working together to demand justice. “More must be done, but at the very least, the applications for IDR plans will be online and accessible. Still more than 1 million people have already asked the government to lower their loan payments, only to be met with months of red tape, backlogs and dead ends.”
No Union Contract is Safe
On March 27, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that unlawfully terminates federal workers’ collective bargaining rights under the false pretext of national security. The AFT represents thousands of affected employees in Department of Defense schools and Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals. AFT President Randi Weingarten slammed the order, saying, “This has nothing to do with security and everything to do with silencing those who disagree with the government.”
The fact sheet issued explicitly stated that this is retribution for unions speaking out and leading the charge against the administration’s illegal actions in court. This is union-busting, plain and simple, and if President Trump can cancel hundreds of thousands of union members’ contracts with the stroke of a pen, no union contract in America is safe–and freedom for anyone to join a union, no matter where you work or where you live, is under attack.
Call your legislator today. Tell your senators and representative that we demand our union rights to be protected!
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.
Immigration Hub: Protecting Our Patients and Families Toolkit is Available
The AFT immigration hub has resources available for healthcare workers. The Protecting Our Patients and Families Toolkit is available in English and Spanish. The hub also features links to updated resources for healthcare workers, including Know Your Rights for Healthcare Facilities and a Healthcare Facility Pledge.
AFT Voices: ‘Becoming a Paraprofessional’
Macomb ISD Federation of Teachers Special Education Paraprofessional Jeff Whittle, started supporting children with disabilities as a volunteer in junior high school. It’s a job he has loved for decades. But now he finds himself in a strange new era with a president of the United States who wants to slash education funding and even eliminate the Department of Education. We must fight back, Whittle writes in AFT Voices. With all the chaos going on in Washington, D.C., it’s more important than ever that we carry our work on behalf of children to Congress, the courts and the court of public opinion.
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!
Michigan’s New Wage, Sick Time and Leave Laws: April 5 Online Symposium
Learn more about our state’s new earned paid medical leave, sick time and minimum wage laws. To register for the zoom link and for more information click here.
Register for the Michigan School for Women Workers
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.
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
