The Detroit Public Schools Community District and the Detroit Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 231, are pleased to announce that they have entered into a tentative agreement for a successor collective bargaining agreement for the 2023-24 school year.  The DFT Executive Board went into special session this evening and unanimously agreed to present the tentative agreement to the membership for a ratification vote. All DFT bargaining unit members are expected to report to work, tomorrow, August 21, 2023 at the start of your work day.

According to the Constitution and By-laws of the union, only members who are in good standing may cast a ballot on the tentative agreement.

DPSCD and the union have a letter of agreement for the College Transition Advisors who received lay off notices in April. We have finalized all restructuring components for those employees who held a position as a CTA with the district. All documents pertaining to options available to CTAs will also be placed on the website, under Members Only, resources tab.

• Pathway Counselor
• Academic Interventionist
• Layoff
• Severance Package

The district's director of Human Resources, Benjamin Jackson will  be contact all College Transition Advisors soon for a 15-minute session where questions can be asked to assist the CTA  in making the best decision. The CTA will have until Friday, June 16, 2023 to select an option. 

Pathway Counselors Agreement

Restructuring Options

Severance Package

The DFT participated in the annual AFT Michigan Leadership Summit at the University of Michigan-Dearborn last weekend. Treasurer Rodney Fresh, EVP Jason Posey, President Lakia Wilson and Executive Board Member, Marcus Walton, were joined by Eva Coleman, president of the Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (ACTA).  The summit focused on three areas: collective bargaining, organizing, and legislative strategies for the year ahead.  

Last Thursday, Donna Jackson, President of the Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals, Local  2350, Lincoln Stocks, President of the Eastpointe Federation of Educators, Local 698, Detroit Federation of Teachers, Local 231 President Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins and activists Dwan McGrady and Nastassia Szpaichler offered testimony in support of HB 4044. HB 4044 repeals PA 54 which freezes any step increases, makes employees fully responsible for healthcare increases, and prohibits retroactive pay if a collective bargaining agreement expires before a new one is reached. The members effectively highlighted other issues impacting educators from the various prohibited subjects of bargaining, the privatization of support staff and the limitation of some bargaining rights for DPSCD teachers. Their testimony set the stage for a future slate of bills that will restore the rights of educators across our state and address the critical teacher shortage we are facing. We will continue to work with our allies to ensure our members can make their voices and experience heard as these bills move through the legislature. 

The Detroit Federation of Teachers is expressing condolences to the family of retired Labor Relations Administrator, Marvin Green. Brother Green served in the office as an LRA for many years, under the administrations of John Elliott, Janna Garrison and Virginia Cantrell.

Keith Johnson, former president of the Union, states that he was so saddened to learn that his former colleague passed away back in January. Marvin served more than 20 years as a Labor Relations Administrator for the DFT.

When I came to the DFT office in 1993, Marvin was an invaluable asset to me in learning how to serve our members. Marvin didn't really say much, but he was acutely aware of members rights under the CBA, and was vigilant and diligent in the enforcement of their rights. Marvin was the most organized person in the office.  You never saw his desk cluttered, and his file drawers were immaculately structured; organized either alphabetically or chronologically.  A place for everything, and everything in its place. It was always humorous to me that when I became Director of Operations, how Marvin would come to me to ask how he should proceed on an issue, not because of my knowledge but because of my.position. Marvin was a dedicated Unionist; passionate about education, passionate about the teaching profession, and passionate about his Union. DFT members past and present should be thankful for the service rendered by Marvin L. Green.

Rest in peace my friend and Union brother.

Patrick Falcusan, Retirement Counselor, had this to say about his colleague: When I was new to the Union many years ago, Marvin would offer me advice on how to accomplish some of the tasks that then President John Elliott would assign me.  Marvin would urge me not to attempt too many tasks at once and then end up not doing any of them well.  Rather, he said, I should  concentrate on the really important tasks, but do all of them very well.  Marvin was also my go-to person when there were parts of the Contract that I did not quite understand.  Marvin would take the time to explain the Contract language to me--and answer other union-related questions.  Sometimes I am able to pass along some of his answers when unit members call me with the same questions these many years later."  

Here is his obituary: Marvin L. Green Obituary.  His memorial service will be in Hastings, Michigan on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

The DFT Election Committee has announced the Spring 2024 election for four (4) election committee members, ten (10) delegates to the AFT Michigan Convention and ten (10) delegates to the AFT National Convention. The election committee spots are full two year terms (April 2024-March 2026).  There are separate calendars for the Election Committee election and the delegates election. The

Here are the documents embedded in the above article.

• 2024 Election Committee Election Calendar
• 2024 Delegates Election Calendar
• 2024 Election Committee Guidelines document
• 2024 Delegate Election Instructions
• 2024-2026 Election Committee Nomination Form
• 2024 Delegates to the Convention Nomination Form