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We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us the next two months, but like Michelle Obama told us: “If we start feeling tired, if we start feeling that dread creeping back in, we’ve got to pick ourselves up, throw water on our face, and what?—DO SOMETHING.”

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DETROIT—Today, leaders of the 1.8 million-member AFT embarked on a cross-country, multicity election bus tour to get out the vote and highlight the pivotal issues facing America this November.

Union members are “all in” this election season supporting candidates who support the values and actions needed to realize the promise of America; economic and educational opportunity for all; lower costs; upholding broad-based freedoms, including a women’s right to make their own healthcare decisions; and the strengthening, not diminishing, of our voice at work and in our democracy.

The AFT, which has 600

We have been made aware of an IT issue with our email system. We are currently unable to receive emails to our DFT inbox. We have reached out to our IT department and they will provide us with an answer soon. In the meantime, if you need to contact a DFT staff member please call on Thursday to our Office Assistant, Mae Winters at 313-875-3500. She will be available to take messages. We will update when the issue has been resolved.

The AFT kicked off its first get-out-the-vote town hall with two special guests: Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz (wife of vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz) and longtime AFT ally Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota). DFT President, Lakia Wilson Lumpkins was asked to speak at this forum to explain what DFT members will be doing to promote Get Out the Vote in Michigan, a swing state that will be a major factor in this fall's presidential election. Read the article here: GOTV AFT Town Hall Meeting.

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Metro Detroit Labor Day Parade: Monday, September 2, 2024.  Our section will line up at Trumbull and Michigan starting at 7:00 a.m. At 9 a.m., we will march to Roosevelt Park (Michigan Central train station) where there will be a labor program. After the parade, AFT Michigan members and families are invited to stop by our building (2661 E. Jefferson) for an informal BBQ before heading home. ​The DFT will be participating in the parade and we will be carrying our banner.  Join us in solidarity and wear your red DFT t-shirt.

At the AFT National Convention in Houston, DFT President, Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, was elected to be one of the vice presidents to serve on the union's executive council. This will be her first term serving in this position. She joins 42 other vice presidents who sit on the executive council, including AFT Michigan president, Terrence Martin. Wilson-Lumpkins is thrilled to be elected by her fellow AFT delegates to this position. The AFT is governed by its elected officials, all of whom were reelected to their positions:  President Randi Weingarten, Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram and Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus, the 43 AFT vice presidents on the Executive Council. 

Five divisions within the AFT represent the broad spectrum of AFT's membership; PK-12 teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; and federal, state and local government employees along with 80,000 early childhood educators and 250,000 retiree members. The AFT, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, was founded in 1916 and today represents 1.8 million members in more than 3,000 local affiliates nationwide.