We certainly did not have the results we were hoping for on Election Day. I was cautiously optimistic going into the election, so it was very disappointing to lose the presidency and the state house. It’s undeniable that these losses will make things tough for labor and working families; however, these challenges aren’t insurmountable. We can and will chart a path forward.
And we had some important wins this campaign:
- We won 4 out of the 6 school board seats in Onaway
- We won 4 out of 4 school board seats in Taylor
- School funding millages in Detroit, Hamtramck and Wayne County RESA all passed
- 1 of our 3 candidates for school board in Detroit won
- We won both state supreme court seats to increase our majority
- We maintained Democratic majorities on all of our university boards
- Elissa Slotkin will be our next Senator
I’m sure I missed a few more wins. I want to thank all of you who helped out for your work knocking doors, donating to PAC, and working polling stations on election day. We’ll use the outcome of this election as fuel to come back stronger in two years for the midterm elections.
Justice Leaders Collaborative Course – December 10
Join us on December 10, from 6-8 PM for JLC’s Social Justice Primer! AFT Michigan has been working with the Justice Leaders Collaborative to provide members with the opportunity to learn more about issues of equity, inclusion and social justice. Leaders and members committed to developing their knowledge and skills around social justice issues have gone on to continue building strong, inclusive, and equitable unions across our state. The Social Justice Primer is a brief introduction to key social justice theories and concepts including:
- Social identities such as race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and ability
- Privilege and oppression
- The four levels at which privilege, oppression, and change manifest
- Implicit bias
- Microaggressions
The workshop ends with concrete ideas for how you can show up in more inclusive and socially just ways in your life and work. Register at www.aftmichigan.org/union-building-events today! Please reach out to Meenakshi Mukherjee (mmukherjee@aftmichigan.org) with any questions.
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!
Let’s Not Reduce Native American Heritage to ‘Feather or Dot’
When Lisa O’Nan was a child, she was often asked about her heritage, and it always confused her. Was she a “feather” or a “dot”? Today, O’Nan discourages this kind of reduction of Native American people to a “feather” and people from India to a “dot,” urging educators to offer a richer view to children eager to learn about the people around them. For National Native American Heritage Month, O’Nan reflects on her experiences as a citizen of the Muscogee Nation and offers resources that explore true history instead of the inaccurate, diminishing stories still offered by outdated educational systems.
Professional Development Workshop
Promoting Academic Success for All Learners
December 7, 2024
AFT Michigan
2661 E Jefferson – Detroit 48207
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
This in-service will introduce several instructional approaches that can support academically challenged students to experience successful learning.
Click here to register
In solidarity,
Terrence Martin
President
