Detroit Federation of Teachers

DFT Leadership Team & Staff Training

May 1st meant training day for DFT Officers, Executive Board, Trustees, Election Committee and Staff.

Giddy Up! at the Annual Building Representatives Dinner

Members Cynthia Pearson-Matthews, Tracie Diggins, Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, and Cassandra Brown know how to put their "boots on the ground" at the annual dinner.

Solidarity Wednesday

The staff at Thirkell wear their "red for ed" to demonstrate solidarity.

DFT Retirees Learn About MARSP

At the May Retirees Meeting, members listened as the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel president, Royce Humm, detailed how this organization advocates for retired educational employees.

WHAT'S NEW: Tentative Agreement Is Ratified

We have concluded the ratification vote of the tentative agreement.

YES: 1121

NO: 406

The negotiating team of President Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, Executive Vice President Jason Posey, Labor Affairs Administrator, Karin Whittler, Retirement Counselor/Financial Analyst, Patrick Falcusan and Atttorney, Marshall Widick sincerely appreciate the vote of confidence that has been given by our members in ratifying this agreement.

What unions do

In AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest New York Times column, she describes what it is exactly that unions do. Though unions are the most popular they have been in decades, anti-union sentiment still thrives in red states and across the nation. “Several years ago, The Atlantic ran a story whose headline made even me, a labor leader, scratch my head: ‘Union Membership: Very Sexy,’” Weingarten writes in the column. “The gist was that higher wages, health benefits and job security—all associated with union membership—boost one’s chances of getting married. Belonging to a union doesn’t actually guarantee happily ever after, but it does help working people have a better life in the here and now.” Click through to read the full column.

WHAT'S NEW: DFT Supports Right to Work Repeal in Michigan

Kudos to Vice President, Robin Jennings, for speaking on behalf of our union for repealing Right to Work in Michigan. Please share this video with your family and friends. Michigan wouldl be the first state in the country to repeal Right to Work.

MIchigan Teachers Support Repeal of Right to Work

WHAT'S NEW: Candidate Screening Videos

The DFT held a candidate screening for those who are running for office. We recorded the conversations and have posted them here. There are six separate videos. Our members are encouraged to watch the videos so they can make informed decisions about the election process.

Saturday Candidate Screening on Zoom (passcode is XDXeF6=k) candidates are Hill Harper at 00:00:50, Elissa Slotkin at 00:30:00, Rashida Tlaib at 01:03:00.
Raphael Washington Candidate Screening (runs 14 minutes)
Shri Thanedar Candidate Screening (runs 14 minutes)
Thursday Candidate Screening candidates are 00:00:50 Macie Gaines, 19:00 Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, 45:00 Sherisse Butler, 1:10:00 Boyd White III, 1:33:00 Stephanie Young
Mary Waters Candidate Screening (runs 20 minutes)
Adrienne Scruggs Candidate Screening (runs 16 minutes)

WHAT'S NEW: President Featured Speaker for Women's History

Join President Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins as part of a Women's HERstory program!

LOA Head Coach Sports Reporter Producer 2023-2024

The district and the union have agreed to a stipend rate for the newly created position of Head Coach Sports Reporter Producer. Click here for the letter of agreement.