As per the Election Calendar which was provided to members in January, the DFT Election Committee would like to make the following announcement:

No grievances were filed by the February 22, 2024 deadline. Therefore, the Election Committee and Delegate seats are uncontested. There were 4 eligible candidates for the 4 open seats on the Election Committee and there were 10 eligible candidates for the 10 open seats for delegates to the Michigan and National conventions.

The 4 Election Committee eligible candidates are

1. Devette Brown
2. Julia Hunko
3. Onza Stokes
4. Laura Watt

The 4 Election Committee candidates will be sworn in at the April 2024 General Membership meeting.

These 10 delegates, along with DFT officers, the executive board and the president of DFT 231R (the retirees chapter), will be seated at the AFT Michigan State Convention on Saturday, May 4 and the AFT National Convention in Houston from Monday, July 22 until Thursday, July 25, 2024.

1. Devette Brown
2. Cassandra Davis
3. Tracie Diggins
4. Mark Duffy
5. Regina Fuqua
6. Julia Hunko
7. Yolanda King
8. Tamika Merchant
9. Carol Pierce
10. Andrea Raiford

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.

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.

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.

As per the Election Calendar which was provided to members in January, the DFT Election Committee would like to make the following announcement:

No grievances were filed by the February 22, 2024 deadline. Therefore, the Election Committee and Delegate seats are uncontested. There were 4 eligible candidates for the 4 open seats on the Election Committee and there were 10 eligible candidates for the 10 open seats for delegates to the Michigan and National conventions.

The 4 Election Committee eligible candidates are

1. Devette Brown
2. Julia Hunko
3. Onza Stokes
4. Laura Watt

The 4 Election Committee candidates will be sworn in at the April 2024 General Membership meeting.

These 10 delegates, along with DFT officers, the executive board and the president of DFT 231R (the retirees chapter), will be seated at the AFT Michigan State Convention on Saturday, May 4 and the AFT National Convention in Houston from Monday, July 22 until Thursday, July 25, 2024.

1. Devette Brown
2. Cassandra Davis
3. Tracie Diggins
4. Mark Duffy
5. Regina Fuqua
6. Julia Hunko
7. Yolanda King
8. Tamika Merchant
9. Carol Pierce
10. Andrea Raiford

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.

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.

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.