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David Hecker: Michigan students deserve to learn in a healthy environment
As educators and advocates for public schools, we believe in empowering our students with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to succeed and thrive later in life — but we also recognize our responsibility to provide a stable future for young people doesn’t end there. As the chair of the union-led Michigan Green and Health […]
David Hecker: Public sector workers deserve more protections in Michigan
A great deal has already been accomplished this legislative session. Democrats, who have majorities in both the Michigan House and Michigan Senate for the first time in 40 years, have joined with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to drive large policy changes. This sea change in leadership was accomplished last November, in large part thanks to the […]
David Hecker: Don’t fall for well-funded, divide-and-conquer tactics
Throughout history and across continents, wealth and power have often been concentrated in the hands of just a few people and organizations. That’s while the rest are left to contend for scraps, and the United States is no different. The ultra-wealthy are an extremely small part of the population, so they work to hold onto […]
David Hecker: Students should be taught the truth about Rosa Parks and other civil rights leaders
The myth: Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white man because she was physically tired. The truth: As Advance readers know, the truth is that Rosa Parks was not physically tired, but was tired of the humiliation, the second-class status; that Rosa Parks was an activist, the […]
David Hecker: What does Damar Hamlin have to do with worker safety? More than you think.
When Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the football field a few weeks ago, fans and fellow players alike looked on in horror — while NFL officials were ready to get back to business. The coaches of both the Bills and their opponents, the Cincinnati Bengals, insisted on postponing the game, but […]
David Hecker: We need to work together to protect the health of kids and workers this winter
Cold and flu season is here — and this year, respiratory viruses are running rampant among children in Michigan and across the country. With COVID still a factor and RSV and influenza on the rise, we’re seeing alarming rates of these illnesses in our kids, resulting in overcrowded hospitals and difficulty getting treatment. Naturally, schools […]
David Hecker: After the election, let’s celebrate, analyze and build a better Michigan
Last week’s election results were astounding. For the first time in my 39 years in Michigan, stalwart allies of public education and working people are the majority in both the Michigan Senate and House and Gretchen Whitmer will be our governor for four more years. Moreover, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana […]
David Hecker: How you can make your voice heard this election
We hear it every time there’s an election year: Get out and vote to effect change in your communities. And it’s true; voting is one of the most important tools we have to put our political values into practice. You can bet I’ll be casting a ballot this November — but voting is just one […]
David Hecker: We can debate issues, but public education shouldn’t be a political war zone
As a union representing educators, we have a vested interest in public policy, and therefore politics. And as a union, AFT Michigan has received our fair share of criticism from people who believe politics do not belong in education. At best, the claims that we should keep education and politics separate are somewhat misguided. At […]
David Hecker: Corporations should stop funding politicians who back voter suppression
Sometimes it is hard to live our values. We try hard to do so, and I for one, know that at times I falter. But while slipping at times is understandable, there are lines we must strive never to cross. Voting rights is not a complicated issue. It’s a question of fundamental values — justice, […]
David Hecker: Here’s why canceling student debt matters
For decades, teenagers have been sold a version of the American dream centered around college education: They’ll go to school, graduate with a degree, and find enough success in their chosen field to pay off their debts and thrive financially. Parts of this are true, and some lucky few may have this exact experience — […]
David Hecker: We must fight back against attacks on LGBTQ+ kids and adults
Right now, I am worried. Like many others in Michigan and across the country, I’ve seen the onslaught of homophobic and transphobic attacks coming at LGBTQ+ kids and adults from all angles, and I know the impact this kind of bigotry can have on people who are already marginalized. In just the past few weeks […]