EMUFT Lecturers Union Contract Negotiation Goes South.

Photo Jeff Brown Purple Walrus Press.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to a July 23, 2020 press release from EMUFT (Eastern Michigan University Federation of Teachers), Eastern Michigan University has disregarded an appointment structure that both sides had reportedly agreed on in recent weeks. According to EMUFT, the new structure would have meant enhanced job security for long-serving part-time lecturers.

EMUFT stated that a new structure had been worked out between teams which included input by the Department Heads and Union members. According to EMUFT President Daric Thorne, “The level of cooperation and inclusion of the various perspectives was unprecedented. Both teams kept reporting back to their constituents and managed to find a good, workable solution that would have benefited departments, lecturers and students in the long run. Now the Administration has completely discarded months of work.”

According to EMUFT, when the negotiations began in February both sides were in agreement that a respectful and cooperative process would be adhered to and would best serve the needs of all parties involved. The hope was that collaboration would lead to an improved relationship between the Administration and Part-time Lecturers. According to EMUFT , the relationship between the Administration and Part-Time lecturers has been contentious.

EMUFT feels that long-serving employees see their workload and livelihoods reduced each year. According to EMUFT, EMUFT and the Administration agreed early on in negotiations that finding a better appointment structure was one of their foremost concerns. According to Thorne,  “abandoning the work of several months is insulting and a colossal waste of time, effort and resources. Unlike their high cost lawyer and the rest of their bargaining team, our team is made up of uncompensated, volunteer members who participated in this process in good faith for the betterment of their colleagues and for our students."

According to EMUFT, "The administration doesn't want to provide health insurance, they don't want us to have reasonable pay or job security, and they want to take away our access to more affordable healthcare at the campus clinic in the middle of a pandemic. Do they care that they are impacting the
health and safety of their campus community, including putting our students at risk as well?"

On July 8, 2020, Eastern Michigan University sent out a press release addressing the ongoing negotiations. According to the press release, Eastern Michigan University stated that the university has great respect for part-time lecturers and their value to the University and students. According to a statement from the University, "Contract negotiations are often challenging and difficult. We plan to continue to work productively and collaboratively with the EMUFT to resolve these matters. In light of the current pandemic and its severe and disruptive impact on Michigan's economy and the budgetary challenges confronting organizations across our state, which have led to massive cutbacks and layoffs throughout the region, we believe our offers to the group are more than fair and justified."

Governor Whitmer To Povide Update On the State's Response to COVID-19 Tuesday.

Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to the State Emergency Response Center, tomorrow, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun will provide an update regarding the state’s response efforts to COVID-19. 

WHO:  Governor Gretchen Whitmer           
            MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun

WHAT: Press Conference 

WHEN: Tuesday, July 28th at 2:00 PM

Protest and March To Stop Federal Arrests Draws Large Crowd In Downtown Ann Arbor Saturday.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

Temperatures approaching 90 degrees did not stop approximately four-hundred demonstrators from protesting federal arrests that have been occurring during Black Lives Matter protests in the nation during the last few weeks. The demonstration took place in front of the Federal Building in downtown Ann Arbor Saturday afternoon. According to organizers, the goal of  the protest and march was to nonviolently protest the arrests and detention of protesters by uninvited and unidentified Federal Officers. The protesters carried signs saying Black Lives Matter, Love One Another, No Military War On the Black Community, I Can't Breath, No Gestapo, Stop Racist Police Violence and Our Constitution Is on Life Support.

Between 1 PM and 2:30 PM several speakers addressed the demonstrators in front of the Federal Building. Speakers included Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor, Washtenaw County Sheriff Gerry Clayton and Representative Yousef Rabhi. During his address to the protesters, Representative Rabhi stated, "It is not just about voting in November, it is about showing up everyday.

After the speakers finished addressing the demonstrators, the protesters began marching through the streets of Ann Arbor, as diners looked on from outdoor cafes and restaurant seating. Customers dining on the sidewalks and streets looked on silently as protesters marched by.

As protesters marched to the intersection of Liberty and Division, the marchers stopped and took a knee in silence while blocking the intersection in commemoration of George Floyd. Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in May.

Photos Jeff Brown Purple Walrus Press.

Reports of A Shot Fired In Normal Park Neighborhood In Ypsilanti Wednesday Evening.

Mansfield Street in Ypsilanti between Grant Street and Sherman Wednesday evening. Photo Jeff Brown Purple Walrus Press.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

There were multiple reports of a shot fired Wednesday evening in Ypsilanti's Normal Park Neighborhood on Mansfield Street near Washtenaw International High School and Middle Academy (WIHI/WIMA).  The alleged incident occurred in front of a home at approximately 7:30 PM.

According to a neighbor, workers in the backyard of the home on Mansfield saw a vehicle stop or slow down in front of the home. Reportedly, the workers saw someone in the car hold a gun and fire one shot. According to the neighbor, the owner of the home found a shell casing in street in front of the house shortly later. The neighbor called the police department and within minutes multiple police cars responded to scene.

According to the neighbor, no bullet holes were found on the home.

This is an ongoing investigation. Stay tuned for updates.

Please Wear A Mask: Contributed To PWP By Flint Activist Melissa Mays.

By Melissa Mays.

Ok, so will those of you who refused a mask because the President wouldn't wear one please NOW wear a face covering so we can survive this pandemic and try to get lives back to normal?? PLEASE? No more politicizing mask/face shield wearing and virus safety... PLEASE. I'm tired. Maybe it's the exhaustion from the constant arguing. Maybe it's because my body has had enough and ya can't sleep well with a heart monitor on 24 hours a day because every time you roll over it yells at you. Maybe it's just because a few inches of paper, fabric or a plastic shield should not be this hard or the source of brutal fighting when it can protect so many. Maybe I'm just weary from people not giving a F about others... possibly all of the above. And remember, if you cannot wear a cloth or paper face covering, face shields are an excellent option.