Eleven CFT priority bills make it to Governor Newsom’s desk
This week eleven of the CFT-sponsored and cosponsored bills introduced this year in the State Capitol were passed either the California State Senate or Assembly and are now on to the Governor’s desk
For a quick rundown of the bills, click here. For a broader discussion of CFT’s legislative priorities this year, check out this article.
Included in the bills now going to Governor Newsom’s desk is AB 5. Authored by Assembly member Rick Chavez Zbur, and co-sponsored by CFT, AB 5 would ensure secondary educators supporting our LGBTQ+ students receive the best possible training to continue providing a high-quality, culturally competent education.
“CFT proudly stands with educators, school staff, parents, and students in calling for Governor Newsom to sign AB 5, The Safe and Supportive Schools Act,” said CFT President Jeff Freitas in a statement. “As a longtime classroom teacher and a gay man, I know that safe schools not only support learning but save lives.”
Also included in the approved bills is AB 811, CFT’s priority legislation that would allow students to repeat courses they already passed in our community colleges for skill building and life-long learning, as well as AB 1699 which would give classified staff in both K-12 school and community colleges the right of first refusal for additional part-time and full-time assignments.
While this is great news, one critical bill remains up for consideration in Sacramento. AB 938, which would raise funding for TK-12 schools by 50% over seven years in order to raise educator and school worker salaries by 50%, is still to be voted on in the California State Senate. The bill will now be considered in the next legislative session, which begins early next year. AB 938 remains a core priority for CFT, reflected by the 7,000+ members who signed a petition urging passage of the bill. CFT leadership and staff are going to press the Governor’s office and key legislative budget leaders to negotiate a plan forward and to prioritize the bill in the state budget.
Watch the ArtCenter faculty solidarity video
Last week Congressman Adam Schiff, State Senator Anthony Portantino, students, labor leaders, and religious leaders joined ArtCenter faculty in a spirited press event in front of the campus in Pasadena. All speakers joined the faculty in calling for the administration of the college to quickly settle a fair contract.
Check out this video from the event and the great coverage from Pasadena Star News and Pasadena Now.
Solidarity
UAW workers on strike. Solidarity with UAW auto workers, who are now on strike at three assembly plants across the Midwest. Workers are asking for the owners of the Big 3 automakers to share their record profits and to end a two-tier system in place. The Big 3 have made a combined QUARTER-TRILLION DOLLARS in North American profits over the last decade. But UAW members never got their fair share.
Sign this petition to let auto workers know you support them, and for more information about how you can offer further support, click here.
