Detroit Federation of Teachers

DFT President with Ingram, Care Moore, Morgan

Reading Opens the World Features Honored Guests

Detroit was ecstatic to have these three people participate in our book giveaway. AFT National Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick C. Ingram welcomed families and educators to Reading Opens the World. He announced that in May the organization will have given away 10 million books for free. We are thrilled to have had a hand in distributing 50,000 of those books. Poet Jessica Care Moore read one of her poems, I used to be a roller coaster girl and author Ellen A. Morgan, Ed. D read her book, Ellie’s Formal Table. They are standing with President Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins.

Election Committee is Sworn In

Four Election Committee members were sworn in at the April General Membership Meeting. Serving a two year term will be Onza Stokes, Laura Watts, Devette Brown and Julia Hunko. We thank these members for their service to the members of the DFT. Executive Vice President, Jason Posey, looks on. Be sure to say hello to Election Committee when you sign in at the May General Membership meeting.

Posey, Wilson-Lumpkins, Weiss, Martin at town hall

DFT Leadership Participates in Town Hall Meeting

At a town hall hosted by State Representative, Regina Weiss, three of our leaders attended the forum: DFT Executive Vice President, Jason Posey, DFT President, Lakia Wilson-Lunmpkins, and AFT Michigan President, Terrence Martin. Many union members were in attendance to listen to the information.

US Senate Candidate Addresses the Membership

.A candidate for the US Senate from Michigan, Hil Harper, came before the DFT General Membership meeting in April to ask for an endorsement by the union. He spoke to members about his support for unions, being a card-carrying member of one himself, as well as the reasons he would like our support in the upcoming August primary. The union will be hosting other candidates who are also seeking our endorsements.

WHAT'S NEW: Early Dismissal Policy

Today, March 3, 2023 all schools will dismiss two (2) hours earlier than the normal dismissal time. The early dismissal is due to a Winter Storm Warning developing this afternoon.

Please see the following DFT/DPSCD contract language:

Article Twenty-Five: Emergency School Closures: Emergency Weather Conditions

"When individual schools are closed after the start of the school day, teachers will also be dismissed."

In the case of students who are not picked up immediately after dismissal, this is also addressed in the CBA

Article Seven: School Schedules Section Seven

"At the elementary school level, teachers will escort their students to the designated dismissal door; any students not picked up will be escorted by the teacher to a place identified in the building procedures. At the middle and high school levels, teachers will clear the halls of students in their area of the building."

February 2021 General Membership Meeting Minutes

Please click the link, February 2021 General Membership Meeting Minutes, to view and download the minutes.

DPSCD and DFT 2020-2021 Tentative Agreement

Please click the following links to review the 2020-2021 Tentative Agreement (TA) with the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

It comes with great sadness that I report that John Elliott, former Detroit Federation of Teachers president, has died. He led our local from 1981 to 2001 and holds the distinction of being the first African American to serve in the post.

Brother Elliott’s career as a Detroit Public Schools teacher began in 1961. He rose through the ranks as a DFT member, a union administrative assistant in 1966, and as an executive board member and executive vice president, beginning in 1968. In 1987, he was elected to serve as Michigan AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer, making him the first African American to hold

2019-2020 Tentative Agreement Wage Reopener

2019-2020 Tentative Agreement and Wage Reopener

January 2021 Executive Board Meeting Agenda

Please click the link, DFT January 2021 General Membership Meeting Agenda, to review and download the agenda for the January 14, 2021 Executive Board Meeting..