Finding unity and building power at the 2025 CFT Convention
The 2025 CFT Convention in San Diego last weekend was an opportunity for hundreds of delegates and guests from across the state to come together, connect, and strategize about how to take on the enormous challenges facing our schools and our country.
The three-day event included a mix of great speakers, thought-provoking workshops, the election for CFT officers, and debate on critical policy issues. CFT members got to hear inspiring words from AFT President Randi Weingarten, California Federation of Labor Unions President Lorena Gonzalez, and nationally-recognized immigration advocate Marielena Hincapié, among others.
At the Convention, delegates re-elected CFT President Jeff Freitas, Secretary Treasurer Lacy Barnes, and Executive Vice President Juan Ramirez to another two-year term. In his State of the Union address, Freitas urged delegates to take the momentum from the Convention to fight back and fight forward towards the schools and country we want to create.
Look for full coverage of the CFT Convention in an upcoming special edition of CFT United in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, check out this awesome video of our Rising Up for Justice rally in front of the San Diego federal building, these wonderful photos in our Facebook photo albums, and more coverage on Bluesky.
Thanks again to all who worked so hard to make the 2025 CFT Convention a success!
CCA faculty and students rally for the future of their college
This week dozens of ranked faculty and students at the California College of the Arts (CCA) in San Francisco rallied and marched for better faculty working conditions and student learning conditions. The rally culminated with a delegation of faculty, joined by CFT President Jeff Freitas, delivering a petition to the administration signed by 83% of the ranked faculty. The petition urged the school administration to partner with faculty and students as the school faces many challenges in the years ahead.
Ranked faculty, who joined CFT last year, have been attempting to negotiate a first contract since last June. Core issues include a meaningful voice in governance, clear expectations for teaching and service, and fair and equitable compensation.
“It’s always great to see the CCA community come together. We have such an incredible faculty and student body,” says Sara Dean, a design professor who is on the union bargaining committee. “Our primary goal in negotiations is to support the future of the school and to ensure the role of faculty in building that future.”
CFT condemns Trump's Executive Order dismantling the Department of Education
On Thursday President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) aimed at significantly reducing the U.S. Department of Education. The EO requires Education Secretary Linda McMahon to diminish the capacity of the Department as quickly as possible, which may be accomplished by cutting offices or moving programs to different departments.
The Department of Education provides billions of dollars in yearly funding to California’s K-12 and higher education students, supporting over 6.7 million students across over 10,000 schools. Loss of federal funding could lead to significant program and staffing cuts in our state, deeply harming many of our most vulnerable students, including those with disabilities and those from low-income families. We believe this order is blatantly illegal, because it is Congress that has the power to establish and fund federal agencies, not the executive branch. As AFT President Randi Weingarten said, ‘See you in court.’”
Following the signing of the EO, CFT President Jeff Freitas released the following statement: “A super majority of Americans are opposed to the elimination of the Department of Education because they know the department is fundamental to the success of millions of students across the country. This reckless and illegal attempt to dismantle the Department of Education is a direct attack on our children and their future.”
March 24 town hall: Vital health information on measles
With measles cases rising, schools, healthcare facilities, and communities are facing a preventable public health crisis. Join public health expert and pulmonologist Dr. Vin Gupta, AFT President Randi Weingarten, and Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, for an interactive online town hall on Monday, March 24, at 2:30 p.m. PDT to discuss the outbreak’s impact and what you need to know. This live, audience-driven conversation will cover why measles cases are increasing, how vaccines and public health measures can curb the spread, and what schools, families, and healthcare workers can do to stay safe. Register here.
Resistance Corner
March for Immigrant Workers in Delano on March 31 – This Cesar Chavez Day, the California Federation of Labor Unions, along with the United Farm Workers and SEIU, are calling on all union members and allies to march together in Delano, CA in a strong show of solidarity with our immigrant workers. The march will begin at Memorial Park on South Lexington St. in Delano at 11 a.m. followed by a rally at 1:00 p.m., where we will uplift the voices of all the workers who keep California going. RSVP here.
