September 25, 2023
AFT Michigan Leaders Gather in Dearborn
We had a great Leadership Summit on Saturday at UM-Dearborn. We spent the morning building community with others with similar roles and then the afternoon in union-building skills workshops. Craig Hofman, President of the Crawford-AuSable Federation of Teachers, gets the prize for coming in from the furthest away this weekend, but a big thank you to all attendees putting in the work to make our union strong.
EMUFT Wins Unified Contract Bringing Together Full and Part-Time Faculty
This past week, a very important and exciting event happened at EMUFT Local 9102 when the bargaining team TA’d a contract covering both full and part time lecturers This has been the overarching goal of the local since 1997, when MERC ruled that part time instructors were temporary employees and not eligible for union representation. The organizing committee, then called EMULOC, decided to go ahead with a union of full time lecturers (FTL) but continue to fight for the inclusion of part time lecturers (PTL). In 2010 the PTLs were recognized, but as a separate unit of EMUFT, because the administration refused to accept a unified contract. Today there is one union, one contract! Congratulations to the local’s members and leaders past and present for seeing this through to the end. Highlights of the new contract include:
- Free parking (the only employee group on campus that has maintained this benefit).
- The highest raises both FTLs and PTLs have ever seen in a contract (also the highest annual raises for any unit on the EMU campus right now). Annual increases average:
- 2027/2028: 3%
- 2026/2027: 3.25%
- 2025/2026: 3.25%
- 2023/2024: 4%
- 2024/2025: 3%
- For the first time, PTLs paid above the base minimum per credit hour rate will receive a raise. Their per credit hour rate will increase by $40.
- The minimum FTL salary will increase from $37,500 to $43,000.
- A professional development fund.
Michigan AFL-CIO Convention Re-Elects Bieber and Newman
Last Wednesday and Thursday, trade unionists from across the state gathered in Lansing at the MI AFL-CIO Convention. Among other business, we re-elected Ron Bieber as President and our own Daryl Newman as Secretary-Treasurer of the state federation. Kirsten Herold, AFT Michigan Secretary-Treasurer and LEO President, and I were elected to the MI AFL-CIO Executive Board. David Hecker was honored with a lifetime service award. As a union, AFT is proud of our commitment to the AFL-CIO at the national, state, and local levels – a tradition we are proud to continue.
Support UAW Workers
When working people stand together and use our collective voices to demand a fair deal and a better future, we are capable of accomplishing great things. Our union siblings in the UAW are on strike after their employers refused to meet their demands and offer a fair contract. The UAW has played an essential role building the middle class of Michigan, including supporting our members in more fights than anyone can imagine. We have their back, just as we stand in solidarity with all workers fighting for what they deserve. Thanks to everyone who has joined the picket lines and rallies so far. Click here to add your name to the list of supporters: https://uaw.org/action/
Loan Payments Resume: Debt Clinics Can Help
Student loan borrowers are dreading the resumption of their loan payments after a three-year hiatus that began during the pandemic. Interest on student loans started accruing again Sept. 1; loan payments resume Oct. 1. To help ease the transition, the Department of Education has made some changes, including much more generous parameters for income-driven repayment. The AFT is here to help you sort through it all and find the best pathway to debt relief, with weekly student debt clinics, resources at cancelmystudentdebt.org, and access to Summer, an online resource that helps AFT members navigate student loan repayment for free. Sign up for a clinic here.
Evidence-Based Strategies to Help Students Read Webinar – September 26
Join this webinar with Share My Lesson and Reading Universe to learn about a free new resource with evidence-based strategies and practical guidance to help students learn to read.
In the Evidence-Based Strategies to Help Students Read webinar, first-grade teacher Erika Bryant and Reading Universe senior adviser Kelly Butler discuss how reading instruction in the elementary grades has changed in Mississippi and how all teachers can develop expertise at their own pace through Reading Universe. Unlike other websites, Reading Universe has been built from the start with a cadre of skilled teachers and researchers, and it’s filled with videos of excellent instruction in real classrooms.
Professional Development
AFT Michigan
Strategies For Setting Measurable Objectives
October 7, 2023
8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
In Person Workshop at AFT Michigan – David Hecker Building
This in-service will focus on the process of developing measurable and well-defined learning objectives that authenticate valid assessments.
Click here to register.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month, recognized from September 15 to October 15, is more than a celebration of Hispanic and Latino culture. It’s an opportunity to educate, to connect, and to cultivate appreciation and understanding.
Recognizing the immense potential of this month, check out Share My Lesson for a comprehensive collection of teaching resources, insightful blogs, and professional development webinars designed for both educators and parents.
The worth of teaching about Hispanic Heritage Month in preK-12 schools and communities is immeasurable. It’s a celebration, a lesson, and a commitment to inclusivity rolled into one. As educators and parents, it’s our duty to ensure the younger generation inherits a world that understands and values the vast tapestry of human culture, with each thread as vital as the next. We hope this collection serves as a starting point in your journey to make Hispanic Heritage Month a memorable and transformative experience for every child.
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!
Registration is Now Open for Safety in the Workplace and the 2023 Fall Leadership Institute
Registration is open for both our newest six-week short course, Safety in the Workplace, and the 2023 Fall Leadership Institute. Safety in the Workplace begins on September 28th and deep-dives into Environmental, Health, & Safety laws and regulations, workers compensation, and more. The Fall Leadership Institute, running from November 16-18, is a weekend-long conference aimed at providing labor organizers and union leaders with the tools they need to thrive.
CLCS is Hosting Global Women’s Empowerment Event with Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib
The Women Officials Network (WON) Foundation and Global Ties Detroit are proud to present Women’s Empowerment: Morocco to Michigan & Beyond. This panel discussion, moderated by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, will feature female leaders from around the world. Admission is free but limited, so make sure to register now. The event will be hosted by UM-Dearborn Center for Labor and Community Studies (CLCS) at the Fairlane Center in Dearborn.
Click here for more information and to register.
In solidarity,
Terrence Martin
President
