Fmr. DFT leader planning to start own union

Steve Conn, the former president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers lost his bid to remain president at a meeting yesterday.

Conn was removed from office and expelled from the union last month, after he was voted as the leader in January.

He needed two-thirds majority vote to overturn the union's decision to expel him.

Now, Conn said he plans to start his own union, and is encouraging members of the DFT to not pay their union dues.

Ivy Bailey, DFT interim president released this statement.

"It is my understanding that after last night’s DFT meeting at which Steve Conn was unsuccessful in overturning his misconduct conviction, Conn is encouraging members to not pay union dues and to form his own union.

The DFT is the bargaining unit recognized legally by DPS with exclusive bargaining rights and representation of members. Any group or union that Conn forms is just that a “group."

If Steve Conn organizes members to not pay union dues, he essentially would be serving as an agent of Governor Snyder and the Mackinac Center by destroying unions and collective bargaining for DPS employees. These are not the actions of a Labor Leader. These are the actions of a Union Buster!"