AFT is hosting, in partnership with MANA de Metro Detroit and MANA, A National Latina Organization, on October 24, 2026, at Wayne State University in Detroit. The event is designed to engage Latino/a families and community members through educational resources, family activities, and civic engagement opportunities. MANA is a national organization dedicated to empowering Latinas through leadership development, advocacy, education, and community engagement.

The AFT Family Fair and panel discussion will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and will feature grab-and-go breakfast and coffee, free multilingual and Spanish-language books, student backpacks, hygiene kits, and other community resources while supplies last. The conference will begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue throughout the day.

For more information look here on Eventbrite.

Registration is available here: Register for the AFT-MANA Community Civic Engagement Event. 

• Statewide Ballot Proposal Position
  • Proposal 2026-1 (A proposal to convene a constitutional convention for the purpose of drafting a general revision of the state constitution) - NO
• AFT Michigan 2026 Endorsed Candidates (This list includes federal, state and some municipalities-level elections) https://aftmichigan.org/2026-endorsed-candidates/
• Michigan AFL-CIO 2026 Endorsed Candidates (This list includes federal, state and some municipalities-level elections) https://miaflcio.vote/endorsements/
• DPSCD School Board 2026 Endorsed Candidates
  • Bessie Harris
  • Theodore Jones
  • Jameel Montgomery Smith

  • Terry Whitfield

    
     

From the DFT Election Committee:

Here are the details for the upcoming election for DFT:

Nominations are open until the end of the general membership meeting on October 8th, 2026.

The election will run to Monday, November 16th until Friday, November 20th.

Please refer to the election calendar for further procedures and details.

DFT FALL 2026 ELECTION CALENDAR

DFT FALL 2026 ELECTION NOMINATION FORM

At the August 11th DPSCD school board meeting, members unanimously approved the tentative agreement for DFT Units M (paraprofessionals) and S (food service workers). These members voted overwhelmingly to ratify the TA. The DFT negotiated this contract because the former Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals merged into the DFT last year. 

Here is the ratified CBA: Collective Bargaining Agreement for Units M and S.

The Detroit Federation of Teachers is expressing its condolences to the family of Dr. Iris A. Taylor, DPSC Board Treasurer. She passed on July 30, 2026. We share our deepest sympathies with the district's school board and all who knew her.

Funeral arrangements can be found here: https://www.swansonfuneralhomes.com/obituary/dr-iris-taylor

Here are just a few of the highlights from the 2026 AFT National Convention held last week in Washington D.C. There was a group of 30 union members representing the DFT, including elected delegates and the leadership team.

• Randi Weingarten's State of the Union Address:  Building Our Power to Create a Better Future. Note: if you scroll down this page to member reactions, number 5, you will hear from President Wilson-Lumpkins.
• Sister Lakia addressed the delegates about why voting matters:  Why All Elections Matter. (Runs 2:12)
• Two new initiatives will expand the union’s Fight for Affordability campaign. The AFT is partnering with financial educator Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche on a series of videos about building a strong financial foundation and also with Protect Borrowers on One Big Bill, a campaign to highlight how much student loan payments are increasing because of President Trump’s July 2025 One Big Ugly Bill.
• AFT delegates passed 17 resolutions from six committees:

From the Organizing and Collective Bargaining Committee came resolutions to build worker power; to fight government weaponization of teacher salaries; and to strengthen collective bargaining rights for federal sector employees.

From the Labor and the Economy Committee came resolutions that shows artificial intelligence serves the common good; to fight for affordability and financial security; and to declare May 1 a Day of Civic Action.

From the Human Rights Committee came resolutions that affirm the AFT’s solidarity with immigrant communities; support of the LGBTQIA+ community; and honor the life of the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson.

From the International Relations Committee came resolutions that call for an immediate end to the war with Iran and Lebanon and an investigation into U.S. noncompliance with child labor laws.

From the Higher Education Committee came resolutions that center building pre-contract union locals; creating due process contract language for contingent faculty; and restoring public funding to minority-serving institutions.

From the Schools and Colleges Support Staff Issues Committee came resolutions that call for supporting paraprofessionals and school-related personnel by fighting for universal wage bargaining, a national PSRP week, and strong legislation and collective bargaining agreements.