DFT unit members planning on retiring at the end of the 2023-2024 school year should complete all of the forms related to retirement by May 1, 2024.  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 sick days upon retirement from DPSCD, eligible employees must submit a SFSF to the District's Human Resource office (HR) no later than May 1, 2024 and retire effective July 1, 2024 (or August 1, 2024 if working during the month of July).  The SFSF should be emailed to HR by May 1, 2024.  (Follow the instructions on the Hub.)  The "effective date of separation" on the SFSF should be listed as June 15, 2024 (or July 31, 2024 if working during the month of July).  After the SFSF is submitted to HR, a confirmation email will be sent to the employee.  Employees should print a copy of that email for their records.

Eligible employees meeting the May 1, 2024 deadline will be paid $45 for each unused sick day in their sick bank for days 1 to 100 and $65 for each unused sick day in their sick bank for days 101 to 200 for a maximum payout of $11,000.  Payout for sick days upon retirement does not include a payout from the catastrophe bank.  (To calculate the number of sick days in one's sick bank, divide the number of sick bank hours by eight [8].)

2.  The pension application forms found on an employee's miAccount with the Michigan Office of Retirement Services (https://www.michigan.gov/orsschools).  (Click on the menu item "Ready to Retire", then the box that says, "Apply for Retirement", and then follow the instructions.  Use the same date for "the last day worked" as was used on the SFSF (June 15, 2024 or July 31, 2024).

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 313-875-6783 at any time during the year.

State Representative Regina Weiss is a former teacher with DPSCD. She is in her second term as a state lawmaker. Also attending will be former DFT President, Terrence Martin, who is now the President of AFT Michigan. Please register for the town hall at this link: https://txt.so/hgjMdy.

DFT members are engaging in Solidarity Events at their work locations. We have less than 100 days since our collective bargaining agreement expires.  Here is the calendar for April. 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".

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

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

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.

The DFT Election Committee has announced the following names of candidates for the upcoming Spring 2024 Elections.

Eligible Nominees for the Election Committee

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

Eligible Nominees for Delegates to the 2024 AFT Michigan and National Convention

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 February DFT Retirees Chapter meeting will be virtual. There will be no face-to-face meeting due to the Mint having scheduled another event for the same afternoon. Please reach out to Treasurer, Mary Helen D'Angelo, for the Zoom link to join the meeting. She can be reached by phone. Details are on the Events tab.

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

 and the  list all pertinent dates. The duties of the Election Committee are outlined in the    The instructions for delegates are outlined in the  . There are two (2) separate nomination forms:   and the   .  A member must be in good standing in order to run in either election: Election Committee and delegate. Nominations are open as of today, January 18, 2024. For the Election Committee election, voting will take place in person on March 14,2024 at the general membership meeting. For the delegates election, voting will be online, via Survey Monkey, the week of March 18. Voting will end for the delegates election at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024. If you have any other questions, please reach out to the Election Committee at dft231ec@gmail.com. Please allow them time to respond as they are busy teaching and working during the school day.

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
  

The district and the union have signed a Letter of Agreement affecting the 2023-2024 calendar. The Professional Development originally scheduled for Monday, January 29th will now be held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. This change is due to the Michigan Presidential Primary Election being held on that day and many of our work locations are polling site. Other calendar changes include the February Count Date and the recognition of Juneteenth. You can read the LOA here  

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