The Michigan House Appropriations Committees approved $48.7 million supplemental aid package for Detroit Public Schools.

This is a good first step for the future of the Detroit Public Schools.  With this supplelmental aid package parents can continue to send their children to school, high school seniors will be able to graduate and school staff can get back to the focus of educating and servicing the children and get paid for the remainder of the school year.  

Although this is a positive step there is still work to be done to encourage our state legislators to fully pay the debt and return Detroit Public Schools to local control.

There has been an onslaught of rumors, speculation, and misinformation regarding State Employees, lately so we will try to address these issues as best as we can.

The CT Working Families Party is seeking to train and support anyone interested in running for elected office in their district.  The following message was received from the CT Working Families Party:

This year, we're working hard to find, recruit, and train candidates for local and state office, and we think that person might just be you!

Governor Malloy is making it clear that layoffs are pending and he is setting the narrative that the Unions don't want to help solve the budget issues.  This is comical as State employees have given hundreds of millions over the past 6 years.  We would like to think that the governor respects the sacrifices our members have already made in the agreement he negotiated in 2011 and that cuts and layoffs will only damage Connecticut’s economy.   

UCPEA employees (University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association) voted overwhelmingly to have their contract renegotiated rather than re-submit their contract to the legislature.

UCPEA employees and UConn ratified a contract agreement and submitted it to the General Assembly in early February. 2016. The 5-year agreement called for moving from a 35hr workweek to a 40hr workweek as well as wage increases of 2%, 1%, 1%, 1%, and 1% .

Please plan to attend the membership meeting on

Saturday, March 12, 2016

at

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

at

Union Office

Detroit Federation of Para-Professionals

14191 Greenfield, Detroit

(between Grand River and Schoolcraft)

Topics of discussion

Appointment of Judge Steven Rhodes

District Financial Crisis/Payless Pay Days

Legislation Appropriations Bill

Hope to see You there!

Certified - join before 11-23-21 and pay half dues for the 21-22 school year - click here for printable application

PSRP (Classified) - join before 11-23-21 and receive a $100 rebate check - click here for printable applicaton

Click here to join online

Each Commissioner has been tasked with submitting an agency budget with reductions that reflect the Governor's Budget proposals (basically an overall  reduction of 5.75% and the elimination of certain programs).   The Commissioners are expected to have their plans for achieving the 5.75% reduction finalized and submitted this week.

Lansing Legislators need to act now to respond to students' needs

Our local school district is teetering on the brink of financial collapse.  Today, in a meeting with the Coalition of Detroit Public Schools Unions (the representatives of the unions of DPS workers) transition leader Steven Rhodes said the district will run out of money in early April.

Lawmakers in Lansing must take action now to secure DPS' financial security! They must focus on the future of our neighborhood public schools and the children and families who depend on those schools.  They must act now to avoid a financial crisis that would force schools to close before the end of the 2016 school year denying the children the ediucation they deserve.

A aupplemental appropriation must be introduced, supported and passed to allow DPS to operate through the end of the current school year.  The appropriation would solve our immediate funding issues, but it would not address the larger issues of the districts $515 million debt and its lack of resources for our classrooms.  Our state legislators need to act quickly to ensure that our schools are financially viable - now and in the furture!

Your local union will let you know how you can further support our combined efforts.

Ruby Newbold, President Detroit Assoication of Educational Office Employees AFT, Local 4148

Keith January, President Detroit Board of Education Employees AFSCME Council 25 Local 345

Donna Jackson, President Detroit Federation of Para-Professionals AFT Local 2350

Ivy Bailey, Interim President Detroit Federation of Teachers AFT, Local 231

Deborah Louis-Ake President Organization of School Administrators and Supervisors Local 28 AFSA

Tom Scott Operating Engineers, OE324 500 Hulet Drive, Bloomfield Township

Click here to Join!