Oxnard union hosts inaugural Gold Coast Ethnic Studies Conference
Earlier this month the Oxnard Federation of Teachers and School Employees, AFT Local 1273, hosted the inaugural regional Gold Coast Ethnic Studies Conference in partnership with the Ventura County Office of Education.
The successful conference, which was organized by five certificated members of the union, included attendees from across Ventura county and from across the state. Highlights of the conference included presentations from some of the top scholars and practitioners in ethnic studies, including a keynote address from Dr. Miguel Zavala. In addition to great speakers and workshops, the local invited community partners to coordinate future collaborations.
With great feedback from both attendees and presenters, organizers of the conference are looking to develop professional development on ethnic students with the county office of education, and planning will soon be underway for next year’s conference.
"The Gold Coast Ethnic Studies Conference was a great success because of the teamwork involved,” said teacher Ben Todd, who helped organize the event. "We look forward to helping develop and strengthen ethnic studies programs in Ventura County and throughout the state by building relationships between individuals, institutions, and communities, and continuing to provide high quality, relevant professional development for interested educators.”
Great job everybody!
(Conference photo courtesy of the Ventura County Office of Education.)
Back to School tour report for Labor Day week
CFT’s Back to School Tour was in full swing this week, with visits once again across the state. CFT leaders started the week at the 45th annual Los Angeles/Long Beach Labor Day march with rank-and-file members from UTLA (AFT Local 1021) and other CFT members from throughout Southern California. Later in the week, leaders got a chance to meet UTLA members at Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School, where they shared their concerns about support for special education and math curriculum.
The tour continued with a stop at a back to school event at LA Trade Tech College, where leaders got the opportunity to hear from AFT Local 1521 members, who shared their support for immigrant students and their concerns about rising costs for students. Next up was the University of San Francisco, where CFT leaders joined the part-time faculty (AFT Local 6590), and full-time faculty (AFT Local 4269) at a tabling event on campus.
Finally, nearly 100 people joined CFT leaders at a back to school event hosted by the Palomar College Council of Classified Employees, AFT Local 4522 (pictured above). Classified members discussed the mismatch between under-staffed classified positions and the college’s giant reserve account.
CFT One Faculty Task Force Vision
Since 2023, the CFT One Faculty Task Force — made up of classroom and non-classroom part-time and full-time faculty from throughout the state — has met regularly to develop a strategic plan to transform the current exploitative two-tier system of faculty in the California community colleges into a one-tier system.
As a first step in this process, the task force focused on clarifying what a one-tier faculty structure would look like. The goal of the task force is to end up with a strategic plan to be approved by CFT. As we build a statewide campaign, the work of CFT will be driven by the following Agreements on Principles and Goals, which define our vision. Details here.
BFT’s Regina Chagolla recognized by Alameda Labor Council
Congratulations to Berkeley Federation of Teachers Vice President Regina Chagolla, who was honored last week with a ‘Boots on the Ground’ award by the Alameda Labor Council. Regina, who is pictured above with Alameda CLC Executive Secretary-Treasurer Keith Brown (left), and fellow awardee Nathaniel J. Arnold III from ATU Local 192 (right), is one of many CFT members who contribute to building strength and solidarity with their union siblings through working with their local labor councils.
TAKE ACTION NOW to support critical legislation on the Governor’s desk!
CFT has three critical bills on the Governor's desk. Please take a moment to send him a letter, urging him to sign each of the bills.
Yes on AB 2088: Classified staff should have the right to a full-time job – Too often California’s public schools and community colleges only offer part-time employment to classified staff. This means classified staff must hold multiple jobs to provide for themselves and their families, and that they often go without healthcare. CFT-sponsored AB 2088 would guarantee existing classified employees the right of first refusal to more hours of work to become full-time employees.
Yes on AB 2277: Increase the workload cap for part-time community college faculty – Three years ago CFT sponsored a bill to raise the workload cap for part-time community college faculty. Governor Newsom vetoed the bill, citing the potential impact on healthcare costs. The following year CFT won a historic campaign, winning $200 million in ongoing, annual funding for healthcare for part-time community college faculty. Now there is a new bill (AB 2277) calling on Governor Newsom to once again raise the workload cap. And we need you to take action to ensure the Governor signs it.
Yes on AB 2586: Equal access to campus job opportunities for all students – AB 2586, also known as the Opportunity for All Act, would allow California students at all UC, CSU, and community college campuses equal access to campus job opportunities, regardless of their immigration status.
