AFT Get-Out-The-Vote Bus Tour stops in L.A., Orange County, and Fresno
The AFT launched a national Get-Out-the-Vote bus tour on September 2 with a large Labor Day rally with Vice President Kamala Harris. This week the bus came to California, with stops in Los Angeles, Orange County, and Fresno. The Fresno and Orange County stops were in critical Congressional districts where voters have the opportunity to elect pro-public education and pro-worker candidates to the U.S. House of Representatives.
In Los Angeles, AFT Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus and CFT President Jeff Freitas visited UTLA members at South Gate High School during their lunch break to talk about local, state, and national elections. In Orange County, CFT members from the Coast Federation of Educators, Coast Federation of Classified Professionals, Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, and Adjunct Faculty United got a chance to meet with State Senator and Congressional candidate David Min, and to talk to students and fellow educators on campus about the importance of the upcoming election. In Fresno, AFT and CFT had a National Voter Registration Day event with community partners to remind voters why the civic act of voting—and getting out the vote—is more crucial than ever before. Then, in the afternoon, they met members of the State Center Federation of Teachers (pictured above).
With the election just weeks away, AFT President Randi Weingarten has written a new column about the dangers of the extremist Project 2025, a 900+ page plan written by over two-dozen former Trump administration officials that would hurt working people and do immeasurable damage to public education. Check out the column, and share broadly.
This Tuesday was also National Voter Registration Day. Take a moment to register to vote if you haven’t, and hear why it is so important to do so from CFT President Jeff Freitas in this Instagram video. The deadline to register to vote online in California is October 21.
Happy Hispanic Heritage month!
From September 15–October 15, we celebrate the histories, cultures, languages, and contributions of the more than 62 million Latinos in the United States.
“To me Latino Heritage month highlights the contribution Latinos have made to this country. It is also a month when we encourage our younger generations to learn about the struggles Latinos have endured as well as accomplishments Latinos have made,” says CFT Executive Vice President Juan Ramirez. “I believe we should always encourage our children to be proud of their cultures and to love who they are.”
Make sure to check out CFT’s Hispanic Heritage month web page for curated curriculum and more resources.
Take Action! Time for permanent employment status for ROCP CTE instructors
Assembly Bill 2245 (Carrillo) would help bring parity to Career Technical Education (CTE) instructors employed at Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCPs) operated by a single school district by ensuring they are able to obtain permanent employee status, like other CTE teachers in California.
California's 74 ROCPs have been a crucial part of California’s educational system for over 40 years, providing critical education to both high school and adult students. These CTE instructors work hard for our students every day and are essential to their success. And they deserve the same job security, due process rights, and rehire rights that other educators have.
Please take a moment to urge Governor Newsom to correct this wrong by signing AB 2245.
News in Brief
Apply to serve on the CDE Classified Employee Staffing Ratio Work Group – The California Department of Education is recruiting members of the Classified Employee Staffing Ratio Work group as outlined in CFT-sponsored AB 1273. The work group will play a critical role in providing recommendations to the Legislature regarding classified employees within local education agencies across the state. CFT classified members are encouraged to apply. Details and application here.
CFT Back to School Tour photo album – Thanks again to all of the local leaders and rank-and-file members who made the CFT Back to School tour such a success. Check out this photo album for some of the highlights.
