The Detroit Federation of Teachers wants to share informative tips and resources with our members during this public health emergency. Here's a recap of the information we shared this week. We want to hear from you. What are some of the incredible things you are doing to provide instruction from home? Share with us by sending an email to lhenry@dft231.com by Tuesday, March 24.
NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento about COVID-19 relief available to workers at both the State and Federal Levels
The Health Enhancement Program requirements are indefinitley suspended until further notice for all HEP enrollees and their dependents. There will be no penalties implemented for outstanding HEP requirements for calendar year 2019. The calendar year 2020 compliance monitoring is suspended until further notice.
This announcement was made by the plan adminstrator as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, with the goal of easing the strain on healthcare providers related to non-emergency visits.
The FOSCEP office is temporarily closed due to the closure of the AFL-CIO Building in downtown Harrisburg. We will update our office status here as soon as the building is reopened.
We have not seen any additional statewide guidance today, however, we are seeing a HUGE movement towards telework, so we want to start by thanking all of the agencies who made this common-sense measure a reality. Again, a tip-of-the-hat to the A&R stewards who have been out there with our members fielding questions and pushing the message, such a tremendous effort they have put forth; we give a thank you for the thankless job they are doing..
...that said, we still have pockets of problems...and it is time to call them out...this is a serious illness that is spreading rapidly and some directors/commissioners aren't following the advice of social-distancing and the recommendations for telework...so here is what we need to:
If you HAVE REQUESTED telework and NOT YET BEEN PERMITTED TO DO SO and your JOB IS CAPABLE of being done remotely...then we want to know:
your name
your agency
your directors name
your directors title
and your commissioners name...enough is enough, we need to call out agencies who continue to keep their employees and therefore the public at risk.
Your union, ACCAFT, wants to make sure you are safe and have resources available at your 
fingertips!
FIRST, check this link out! https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/covid19_aft-aaup_guidanceprinciples_031320.pdf
Coronavirus: Information for educators and support staff
Get information from the American Federation of Teachers about what faculty and staff can do to safeguard against the virus, as well as what schools can do regarding preventive schoolwide and districtwide policy.
For complete information and details for higher ed. employees, see the full bulletin.
Help students understand infectious disease and find tools to protect yourself and your community on AFT’s Share My Lesson online collection of lesson plans and resources
You’ll find everything from news program videos to research projects and analyses of past epidemics. You can also visit Texas AFT an the CDC for additional updates and resources.
Click here to see AFT President, Randi Weingarten on CNN addressing the issue of COVID-19 in schools.
Click here to get updates from the Austin Community College website.
March 18, 2020
The District changed course from its previous stance that your must report to work sites next week. Thank you to everyone who wrote to the school board! You do NOT have to report to work next week! This includes ALL instructional staff -teachers and all categories of nonclassroom teachers.
BY DEB ESCOBAR, 18 MAR 2020
It is such a pretty thing, almost looks like a tree ornament. So small it cannot be seen with the human eye, yet Coronavirus has changed our world and our lives.
Food Distribution NISD:
Beginning Wednesday, March 18, drive-through food distribution will be offered at select middle schools across the District. Food and supply kits will be provided, while supplies last, with a one kit per vehicle limit per day.
Each food and supply kit will include breakfast and lunch, non-perishable snack meals, water, and disposable trays and utensils. Kits will be distributed in the bus loop at each designated middle school.
