We are disappointed with the United States Supreme Court decision on Affirmative Action, but we are not disheartened. Affirmative action is a policy that aims to address historical inequalities and promote diversity by providing preferential treatment or opportunities to underrepresented groups. Today’s decision is a step in the wrong direction to make the United States a more perfect union. This country has to reckon with its past and the Detroit Federation of Teachers has always held a commitment to fighting for educational diversity which aligns with the principles behind affirmative action. We believe that there is no better place for all voices to be heard and experiences to be shared than this nation's classrooms. We must not forget that education is the great equalizer and cannot allow it to be erased with the swipe of a pen.

We urge you to read today’s Supreme Court decision, particularly Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s dissent, which begins on page 209.

https://actionnetwork.org/user_files/user_files/000/094/155/original/Students_for_Fair_Admissions__Inc._v._President_and_Fellows_of_Harvard_College_(20-1199).pdf

COMPLETING YOUR RETIREMENT FORMS

DFT unit members planning on retiring at the end of the 2022-2023 school year should complete all of the forms related to retirement by May 1, 2023.  These forms include:

1.  A Separation from Service Form (SFSF) found on the District's Hub. 

Please remember that in order to be paid for illness days upon retirement from DPSCD, eligible employees must submit a SFSF to the District's Human Resource office (HR) no later than May 1, 2023 and retire effective July 1, 2023 (or August 1, 2023 if working during the month of July).

The SFSF should be emailed to HR (hr.records@detroitk12.org) by May 1, 2023. The "effective date of separation" on the SFSF should be listed as June 30, 2023 (or July 31, 2023 if working during the month of July.

Eligible employees meeting the May 1, 2023 deadline will be paid $45 for each unused illness day in their bank for days 1 to 100 and $65 for each unused illness day in their bank for days 101 to 200 for a maximum payout of $11,000. Payout of illness time upon retirement does not include a payout from the catastrophe bank. (To calculate the number of illness days in one's bank, divide the number of illness bank hours by eight [8].)

2.  The pension application forms found on an employee's miAccount with the Michigan Office of Retirement Services (michigan.gov/orsschools).  (Click on the menu item "Ready to Retire", then the box that says, "Apply for Retirement", and then follow the instructions.)

3.  The application forms for Social Security (if eligible) and Medicare (if eligible) found on Social Security's website (ssa.gov).  (This website is separate and unrelated to the Michigan Office of Retirement Services' website and an employee's miAccount.)

Questions about retirement can be directed to the DFT's retirement counselor, Patrick Falcusan, at the union office, 313-875-6783. at any time during the year.

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.

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.

Please click here: DFT Objects to Unilateral Implementation of Certification Bonus to read the letter written by President Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins and Executive Vice President Jason Posey.

We are engaging our members in a "73 Days of Solidarity" campaign. We have a calendar of daily events that will run for the rest of the year. Not only will we be showing solidarity across our union, we are also asking our members to continue to stand in solidarity with other "union shops" by providing a list of "Shop Union".

• Letter About the Unilateral Implementation of Certification Bonus
• March 2024 Union Activities Calendar.
• Shop Union.

Click here for the letter of agreement which addresses oversize classes for the 2023-2024 school year.