AFT Michigan President David Hecker and DFT President Ivy Bailey attended the annual Detroit branch NAACP Fight for Freedom Dinner held on April 23 at Cobo Convention Center in downtown Detroit.
The keynote speaker was U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts.
If we are serious about improving public education for all children, we should invest in their schools and their educators. That’s why it is essential that we take a critical look at the resources we have available and how those resources are being allocated.
In terms of public activity, this was a relatively quiet week at the State House, but be assured, wheels are turning. The House met in session yesterday for only two hours, passing a number of smaller or less important bills, while work continues on the big pieces of legislation. Probably the most noteworthy moment was the brief set of comments offered by Representative Kat Rogers in commemoration of the Columbine school shooting. Her remarks were brief, pointed, and applauded by many, but not all (you can imagine what ideological element of the House refused to honor her efforts). In similar fashion, the Senate also met and rendered decisions on a number of pieces of legislation, each important to certain constituencies but none of major, state-wide importance. The big issues and the controversial legislation is yet to come forth; likewise, work continues on the Senate’s budget proposal.
Colleagues,
1) Contract Update: The NTU Negotiations Committee met several days over vacation to work around some roadblocks to the contract's progress. For the entire week this week, internal meetings amongst committee members, and negotiations meetings with NPS were held. As of now, we can only firmly state that we have reached tentative agreements on the following:
1. We have reviewed and cleaned up language that was conflicting in the previous CBA.
2. We have a tentative agreement language and terms for the new CBA.
Abbreviated BESE meetings sidestep ESSA issue
Faster than a speeding bullet, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education sailed through its slate of meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday in record time. Committee hearings that generally last until the sun goes down (or later) were gaveled to a close with hours to spare, leaving onlookers puzzled more about what did not happen than what did.
AFT Statement of Support for Our Students, Colleagues, and Communities
Adopted by AFT Seattle Local 1789 and AFT Seattle Pro-Staff Local 6550
Colleagues,
April has been a busy month. Check out the newsletter for information for retiree and active members.
http://sabea.ny.aft.org/files/april_2017_sabea_0.pdf
Ø Wed. April 19, Grade-In: Sit in for Solidarity on the 2nd floor of Welch Hall, 9am-1pm
Ø Fri. April 21, Regents Meeting: Members are encouraged to attend in support of a Fair contract for Lecturers. Meet outside of Welch Hall by the Cesar Chavez statue at 10 am and wear red.
Ø Thursday, April 20, 9am-2pm, Bargaining, 217 Halle
Ø Sat. April 22, Commencement: Members are invited to hand out Fair Contract flyers at graduation. Contact Matt (cooper492@yahoo.com), or Tim (emuftorganizer@gmail.com, (734) 487-5448) to sign up or for more info.
The Eastern Michigan University administration has proposed a 25% pay cut for new lecturers, and a pay freeze for current lecturers. New lecturers would have to teach for 5+ years before they would earn the amount that lecturers make today.
The administration’s proposal also eliminates promotions and the small amount of job security this provides, and demotes lecturers who have already been promoted. Part-time lecturers would earn less than half of what full-time lecturers earn per credit.
