Union Building Institute- February 4, 2023
AFT Michigan’s Union Building Institute will take place on February 4, 2023, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, at UM-Dearborn Fairlane North. Sessions are designed to help all members develop skills to build power at their worksites and unions. With a morning and two afternoon sessions, participants will have the opportunity to design their own UBI agendas by selecting up to 3 workshops from 14 sessions being offered to develop their knowledge and skills around organizing, team building, bargaining, and social justice.
Please reach out to Meenakshi Mukherjee (mmukherjee@aftmichigan.org) with any questions.
Fill Out Our 2023 Legislative Priorities Survey
For the first time in 4 decades, Democrats control all branches of state government, which means we have an historic opportunity to roll back the anti-union attacks of past administrations and begin to map out a better future for Michigan. We would like to hear from members across our constituencies about what our shared priorities in Lansing should be as a union.
Register for the Justice Leaders Collaborative Core Course
The Justice Leaders Collaborative (JLC) Core Course is open to all AFT Michigan leaders passionate about issues of equity, inclusion and social justice. Learning will focus on issues of privilege, oppression and inequality along lines of race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. Participants will come to understand their own social identities, biases, and prejudices; increase their knowledge about the histories and present realities of various social identity groups; and begin considering how to incorporate this knowledge and awareness into building strong unions.
Our next cohort of the Justice Leaders Core Course will run 6 consecutive Mondays, 6:00-8:00 pm, starting January 30. Nearly 100 AFT Michigan leaders from all constituencies have now completed the Core Course.
Whitmer Appoints Kyra Harris Bolden to Michigan Supreme Court
On November 22, Governor Whitmer announced that she will appoint Kyra Harris Bolden to the Michigan Supreme Court in January 2023 to succeed Justice Bridget Mary McCormack. Bolden will be the first African American woman to serve on the high court and is the governor’s first appointment to the court. As a State Representative serving Southfield, Bolden has been a strong voice for education and labor policies that reflect the values of AFT Michigan. We’re thrilled that she will now bring her commitment to criminal justice reform, reproductive rights, good jobs, and quality health care for all to the Supreme Court.
Contribute to the AFT Michigan PAC Today
AFT Michigan fights for our members, students 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!
Professional Development
AFT Michigan Virtual Workshop
Cultivating the Somebodiness of Students and Educators (Dignity)
December 10, 2022
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
This workshop will examine research based approaches about how dignity affects students’ growth both socially, emotionally and academically. It will also provide strategies to promote educators’ agency and efficacy while enhancing students’ learning by implementing dignity strategies into the educational realm.
In solidarity
David Hecker
President
