WHAT'S NEW: Supreme Court to hear 3% case

The Michigan Supreme Court has decided to consider an appeal filed by Governor Snyder regarding the "3% retirement" case. This is an appeal of the Michigan Court of Appeals' directive that the State of Michigan refund--with interest--the money involuntarily withheld from the paychecks of all public school employees under a 2010 amendment to the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement Act.

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WHAT'S NEW: Assignment letters emailed to Members

We've learned that 2017-18 school year assignment letters have been emailed to Members. Please check your DPSCD email for the information. 

WHAT'S NEW: AFT Leaders Respond to Hearing on Gary B. v. Snyder Case in Detroit

Statement of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, AFT Michigan President David Hecker and Detroit Federation of Teachers President Ivy Bailey following an August 10 hearing in the Gary B. v. Snyder case, which focuses on literacy in and funding of Detroit schools:

“The pattern and practice of disinvestment in our schools is staggering and betrays our obligation to provide all children the well-resourced public schools they need and deserve. Thirty-six states are still spending less on public schools than they did before the Great Recession, and the city of Detroit offers the most striking evidence of what happens to children when we defund our schools.

“Detroit’s teachers are committed to doing everything they can to help the children of Detroit succeed, but we need investment in our children, our schools and our profession. We stand with the children and families bringing this suit because we can no longer tolerate unsafe and unhealthy learning conditions; outdated or nonexistent learning materials; and inadequate investment in the capacity, professional development, and recruitment and retention of Detroit’s teachers, while, at the same time, unaccountable charter schools drain even more resources from public schools. We are fighting for safe and healthy schools, learning conditions and materials that engage kids, and the training and support we need to improve our craft.

“The state created these poor learning conditions, and now Gov. Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette are further abdicating their responsibility to the children of Detroit by moving to dismiss this case. All these children and families are asking for is what we owe all families—great, well-resourced public schools where parents want to send their kids, teachers want to teach, and children are engaged.”

WHAT'S NEW: DFT Members approve contract with Detroit Public Schools Community District

The Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) on July 27 ratified a new contract agreement with the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD).

The three-year pact calls for a 3 percent salary increase in the first year and a 4.13 percent increase in the second year. The contract also features a re-opener clause in the third year that allows both parties to negotiate wage terms. The clause states that no wages can be reduced in the third year. The pact is the first multi-year contract without concessions between the DFT and DPSCD in more than a decade.

The agreement also provides a $1,750 one-time bonus to teachers at the top of the salary scale. That bonus will to be paid in September during the upcoming 2017-18 school year. 

“I am pleased that our members have approved the agreement,” stated Ivy Bailey, DFT president. “We certainly deserve more but the package offers us the opportunity to continue building our local, move our school district forward and place students first.”

Under state law, the contract now goes to the Financial Review Commission for consideration.