News

The following resolution was adopted by members at the December General Membership Meeting.

RESOLUTION

TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND STAFF DURING IMMIGRATION RAIDS

December 11, 2025 General Membership Meeting

WHEREAS, four students from Western International High School have been detained in the last two months by Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement despite the fact that all of them have filed formal petitions for asylum.

WHEREAS, the student climate and learning culture at Western and for all immigrant students in DPSCD is now one of fear instead of hope.

WHEREAS, the teachers at Western International are often the first to learn about their students' detainment and have gone above and beyond the call of duty to fight to find their students' quality lawyers and resources to help under a limited time constraint.

WHEREAS, the teacher unions of Chicago and New York City have already made such public statements.

THEREFORE, IT BE RESOLVED that as the Detroit Federation of Teachers Union we make a public statement that

1. Requests our four DPSCD students, Mor, Santiago, Kerly, and Antony be released from ICE custody and returned home immediately.

2. Call on our new mayor elect Mary Sheffield to reiterate that as a welcoming city, Detroit Police Department should not cooperate with ICE and Border Patrol. We have seen this done successfully by the Minneapolis, Chicago and New York City mayors.

THEREFORE, IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that DFT and DPSCD provide training for all schools on how to help migrant kids and families avoid getting picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at home or in public – going beyond the district’s guidance limited to keeping ICE out of schools.

On her very first day of student teaching at Linden Avenue Middle School in Red Hook, N.Y., Martha Strever pushed, pulled and pounded on the school’s door, which was locked. No one came. Where was everybody? It was, after all, the first day of school.

It turned out everybody was exactly where they were supposed to be: inside, having entered through the school’s front entrance. Strever had been knocking on a side door. Flustered but undeterred, she not only found her way inside, she also found her life’s calling.

Strever’s sentences are punctuated with laughs when she recounts the story to

The DFT has made several endorsements in the Detroit City Council races:

• Detroit City Council At Large (2 seats are up for election): Mary Waters and Coleman A. Young II
• Roy McCalister, Jr., District 2
• Cranstana Anderson, District 3
• Renata Miller, District 5
• Denzel Anton McCampbell, District 7

The DFT is a part of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO so we are sharing their endorsements in several local races.

Press Conference Announcing the Merger of the Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals with the Detroit Federation of Teachers

The Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) and the Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals (DFP) will formally announce their merger, uniting thousands of education professionals under one strong collective voice. Union leaders will outline the impact of this historic merger on Detroit’s educators, students, and families.

• Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, President, Detroit Federation of Teachers
• Terrence Martin, President, American Federation of Teachers Michigan
• Donna Jackson, Former President, Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals
• Other union and community leaders

Click to read the Press Release of Secretary of Education's Visit to Detroit

We are deeply disappointed in the visits from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and State Representative Matt Hall, given their ongoing support for billions of dollars in proposed cuts to the U.S. Department of Education and the overdue Michigan budget. Both President Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins and Executive Vice President Jason Posey are highly concerned about the implications of reduced funding for all public schools and in particular the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Read the press release in its entirety.

With the primary in about a month, on August 5, 2025, this town hall is critical to gauge the candidates' positions on their vision for Detroit, which inherently impacts the DFT.  We encourage our members to share this information with your family, friends, and community as this is an event open to the public.  

The DFT Election Committee announces the results of the balloting for these two questions:

Question 1:  Shall Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals merge with Detroit Federation of Teachers into one union to be known as the Detroit Federation of Teachers, with all assets, liabilities, rights, and responsibilities combined under one governing body?

• 493 Yes — I vote to approve the merger of DFT and DFP.
• 115 No — I vote to reject the proposed merger of DFT and DFP.

Question 2: Do you accept the Bylaw changes as approved by the Executive Board?

• 537  Yes
• 64    No

Click Here for the Survey Monkey Final Results Document.

The DFT has prepared this resolution that would allow for members of the Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals, Local 2350, to be merged with Local 231. Attached is the resolution presented to members at the May 2025 General Membership Meeting: Resolution to Represent Paraprofessional Members.

SOLIDARITY WEDNESDAYS 

We are asking for members to wear "Red for Ed" on Wednesdays until the end of the school year. Let's demonstrate that we are saying "Hands Off! Our Union", Hands Off! Public Education", "Hands Off! Diversity, Equity & Inclusion", "Hands Off! Social Security, Medicare, Veterans' Benefits" and the list goes on and on. Be sure to take some photos of DFT members in red and send them to our Communications Specialist at VBonacci@dft231.com. Let's show Detroit's pride in solidarity!

The DFT Election Committee announces that the following members will be serving a two year term on the Election Committee-

1. Tameka Merchant
2. Jacqueline Robinson
3. Taneshe Vernon

Crystal White was nominated to fill a vacancy on the Election Committee.

Tracie Diggins was elected to the Executive Board Vacancy.

The changes for both the Constitution and the Bylaws were approved.