79th AFT Michigan Convention Summary
Our 79th Convention was held on May 2, 2026, at the Huntington Place in Downtown Detroit with 140 delegates from 32 locals, along with 65 guests. Highlights included:
- Greetings from Ron Bieber (MI AFL-CIO) and and a keynote conversation between President Terrence Martin and AFT President Randi Weingarten
- A Senate Candidate Forum in which delegates got to hear substantive discussion of the issues from Abdul El-Sayed, Mallory McMorrow, and Haley Stevens
- Honoring great people and organizations with awards, including:
- The John McDonald Union-Building Award: Taylor Federation of Teachers
- The E’Lois Moore-Michele Artt Retiree Activist Award: Andella White, Detroit Federation of Teachers/Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals
- The Walter Bergman Human Rights Award: Members of the Detroit Federation of Teachers advocating for immigrant rights
- Honoring great worksite leaders with the Building the Frontlines Award:
- Stathis Pauls, MSU Extension United, Local #1855
- Josh Hansknecht, Hamtramck Fed of Teachers, Local #1052
- Courtney Iwanicki, United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals, Local #6739
- Celebrating the members of new bargaining units who organized and affiliated with AFT since our last convention, including:
- Organizing Wins
- Hamtramck Fed of Teachers (Behavioral Interventionists & Cultural Facilitators)
- MSU UNTF (MSU Extension Faculty & Staff)
- University Staff United
- UM GEO (Graduate Student Research Assistants)
- UMMAP (Hospital Services)
- WEOCFT
- Affiliations
- UM House Officers Association
- Local Mergers
- Detroit Fed of Teachers and Detroit Fed of Paraprofessionals
- Lake City Fed of Teachers and Lake City Fed of Support Staff
- Organizing Wins
- Recognizing three locals leading the way in PAC fundraising:
- United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals, Local #6739
- UM Lecturers Employee Organization, Local #6244
- Detroit Federation of Teachers, Local #231
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Delegates approved the proposed amendments to the Constitution, which included:
- A dues increase of $3.00 (1.2%) to the full per capita rate in September 2026 and $3.00 (1.2%) in September 2027, with proportional increases to half, quarter and eighth dues in the traditional system;
- A reduction in the rate paid by locals in the percentage system from 0.4% of salary to 0.385% to stay in balance with the traditional system;
- Creating three new Executive Vice President roles aligned with our three main constituencies (Healthcare, Higher Ed, and PreK-12), and
- Creating dedicated board positions and constituency committees for Tenure-Track Faculty and Higher Ed Staff.
LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS
Delegates elected the 2026-2028 AFT Michigan Administrative Board:
President Secretary-Treasurer
Terrence Martin, Detroit Teachers #231 and Kirsten Herold, UM LEO #6244
Vice President (General)
Lori Chapman, MCCFO #6526
Terrence Devlin, Taylor Teachers #1085
Cindee Giffen, UM LEO #6244
Deborah Kingery, WSU UPTF #477
Kathi Martin, Dearborn Teachers #681
Christian Nwamba, WCCCFT #2000
Jason Posey, Detroit Teachers #231
Eric Rader, HFCCFT #1650
Lisa Spratke, UPAMM #5297
Penni Toney, UMMAP #6739
Marcus Walton, Detroit Teachers #231
Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, Detroit Teachers #231
Graduate Employees
Jared Maul, MSU GEU #6196
Healthcare
Cheryl Bodmer, UMMAP #6739
Intermediate School District/RESD
Jacqueline McPeek, Macomb Teachers #2144
Non Tenure-Track Faculty
Anke Wolbert, EMUFT #9102
Paraprofessional & School Related Personnel
Tameka Young, DFSE #4750
Outside Tri-County
Victor Rodriguez-Pereira, MSU UNTF #1855
Prek-12 Teachers
Toni Coral, Hamtramck Teachers #1052
Retirees
Andella White, Detroit Teachers #231R
Tenure-Track Faculty & Academic Staff
Hayg Oshagan, WAU AAUP-AFT #6075
RESOLUTIONS
Delegates approved resolutions on the following topics:
- Engaging State Healthcare Boards, Committees and Commissions
- Advancing a Healthcare Public Policy Platform
- Increasing Access to Healthcare for Higher Education Faculty & Staff
- Too Young to Test
- Fair Taxation to Better Fund Public Education Ballot Initiative
- Resolution Addressing the Disparity in Special Education Services and Staffing Shortages
- Safe and Sustainable Working Conditions in Schools
- Organizing Retirees to Build Power
- Asking AFT to Create a Percentage-Based Dues Pilot Program
- Protecting Our Communities and Fighting for Immigration Justice
- Walter Bergman Human Rights Award DFT 231 Members Working on Immigration Issues
- Call for Peace, Humanitarian Aid, and Solidarity with Working People and Communities Around the World
A big thank you to our staff and all those who served on committees to make our 79th Convention such a success!
Rally at the Capitol – May 6
In 2024, the Michigan Legislature passed 9 bills to improve the wages, healthcare, and pensions for millions of Michigan workers and their families. Matt Hall has been stalling these bills — and hurting workers — for over a year. On May 6, the Michigan Supreme Court will determine whether or not Speaker Matt Hall gets to play king. We are standing on the side of the rule of law.
Join us on May 6 at 9am right outside the entrance to the Michigan Supreme Court as we rally for Speaker Hall to do the right thing.
Sign the petition: https://act.aflcio.org/petitions/republicans-and-democrats-need-to-put-workers-first/
Lessons from Minneapolis – May 16
Know Your Rights Training – May 20
As our communities across Michigan are impacted by increased ICE presence and attacks, join us for a Know Your Rights Training with attorney Liz Jacob from Sugar Law Center on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 5:30-7 PM over Zoom. Learn about your rights as well as support and resources for AFT Michigan members.
Learn more about the session and register here today!
AFT Power Rising 2026
AFT leaders and members were proud to be part of Power Rising 2026, held April 16–19, 2026 in Chicago, a national space centering Black women’s leadership and collective action. The convening focused on turning power into action, with an eye toward the upcoming midterms, strengthening voter engagement, pushing back against rising authoritarian threats, and understanding the role of AI in shaping our communities and organizing.
Grounded in economic empowerment, education and innovation, health and wellness, culture and community, and political engagement, the work reflects a shared commitment to equity and collective power.
Representing affiliates across the country, including the United Federation of Teachers, Houston Federation of Teachers, NE Houston AFT, New Rochelle Federation of United School Employees, Gary Teachers Union, AFT 2000, and Dearborn Federation of School Employees, the AFT delegation showed up strong and in community, contributing to conversations shaping what comes next.
2026 Union Priorities Survey
The National AFL-CIO is gathering responses for their 2026 Union Priorities survey. It is a very brief digital survey (can be completed in less than a few minutes). This survey will help inform Washington, DC how AFT Michigan members are feeling!
Survey link: https://act.aflcio.org/surveys/union-priorities-survey/
Young Workers Conference 20206 – June 25-27
The Young Workers Conference will be held on June 25-27 in Troy, MI, at the Somerset Inn. The theme for 2026 is “Empower & Lead: Now, Tomorrow, & Beyond”.
This conference is open to participants of ALL AGES, and like all of our events, we encourage folks of all backgrounds to participate. We especially encourage workers who are early in their career or who are new to union organizing to join us!
There’s a diverse set of workshops, including Finance 201, Labor Law & Organizing, and Grievance Handling. Check out the YWC26 page to read about the courses and register! You can also download a PDF version of the registration flyer and send it by mail, email, or fax!
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!
Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month
Are you looking for a way to bring new voices into your classroom this week? Whose stories are your students hearing—and whose are missing? This collection helps bring Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island voices, histories and perspectives to your students in meaningful ways.
Upcoming Professional Development Workshop
Enhancing Student Agency
Saturday, May 9, 2026
8:30am -4:00pm
AFT Michigan – 2661 E. Jefferson, Detroit 48207
This in-service is designed to provide educators with effective strategies for transitioning from traditional, teacher-led instructions toward approaches that foster greater student engagement, student agency, and support academic growth.
Click here to register: https://bit.ly/4webcMD
In solidarity,
Terrence Martin
President
