Building the union at CFT Summer School
Thanks to the over 100 CFT members and trainers who took part in the annual CFT Summer School, which took place in Burbank this week. Summer School is a great opportunity for veteran and emerging union leaders to build skills, plan, and connect with fellow unionists from across the state.
Courses this year included the always-popular crash course for new presidents and leaders, contract campaigns, DEI and cultural proficiency, and organizing. New this year was a course on Universal Design for Learning.
Thanks to all those who took the time to make CFT Summer School a success. We can’t wait to see all of the good work in action in the coming school year!
Urge California’s senators to vote against the big, ugly bill
The budget bill working its way through Congress would give massive tax breaks to the wealthy while taking healthcare from 16 million Americans and food assistance from 8 million people. But it would also be a gigantic step backward in regulating generative artificial intelligence (AI). A provision of the budget bill – currently in the U.S. Senate – prohibits states from passing laws regulating AI for 10 years. 10 years!
Big Tech must be regulated and AI has to have guardrails to protect jobs, ensure privacy and keep workers safe. But rather than do their job and enact such regulations, Congress is paralyzed on the issue and is actually poised to BAN states from being able to do so.
Please take a moment and contact California’s senators at 833-770-1697 and tell them to VOTE NO on the budget bill.
Take action to stop charter school fraud and defend our public schools
California is in the midst of several multi-million dollar charter school scandals that are defrauding the public and abusing taxpayer funds.In 2019 A3 Charter School operators stole $400 million of public school dollars. Just this year, operators of Elite Charter Schools in San Diego and Highlands Charter Academy in Sacramento have abused the public coffers to the tune of more than $180 million combined.
CFT is working to solve this crisis, and we need your help. Click here to send a letter to your state assembly member and your state senator, telling them to vote YES on AB 84, critical legislation that will help make sure scandals like these never happen again.
CFT July 1 webinar: One Faculty, One Future
On Tuesday, July 1 from 2:00–3:30 p.m., CFT members who work in community colleges are invited to join the CFT One Faculty Task Force for a 90-minute interactive online workshop on the campaign to transform the current exploitative two-tier system of faculty in the California community colleges into a one-tier system. Bring your questions, concerns, and ideas to advance the movement! Register here.
Join the CFT delegation at the Pride parade in San Francisco on June 29
CFT members, let’s march together in solidarity and celebration at the SF Pride Parade! This is a powerful opportunity to demonstrate our union’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and uplift our community. The parade will take place on Sunday, June 29, usually starting at 10:30 a.m. RSVP here and we will follow up with specific meeting point and event details.
Nonviolent direction action training - July 10
There is an upcoming opportunity to be part of an historic training for activists on nonviolent direct action. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor is working with partners to deliver a mass training at the LA Convention Center on July 10 from 5–8 p.m. CFT Vice President and former UCLA Labor Center Director Kent Wong is one of the organizers of this exciting event and CFT is a sponsor. RSVP here.
Join AFT Local 1521 at Summer of Resistance Trainings on July 3 and July 10
As part of the Summer of Resistance programs taking place this summer in downtown Los Angeles, AFT Local 1521 will host two upcoming events at Placita Olvera on how to fight back against attacks on education. The first will take place on July 3 from 1:00–4:00 p.m. The second will take place on July 10 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. All are welcome.
Is your cell plan funding Elon Musk?
Is your cell phone plan funding Elon Musk? If you’re a T-Mobile customer, it might be. When T-Mobile launches its “T-Satellite” program this July in partnership with Elon’s Starlink service, Musk stands to gain billions.
How will Musk use the money he makes from his deal with T-Mobile? Over the past few years, he’s spent nearly half a billion dollars to elect politicians who are slashing our benefits, destroying our federal government, and attacking our democracy.
We are demanding that T-Mobile live up to its pledge to be “an even greater force for good” and cut ties with Elon Musk. Whether you’re a T-Mobile subscriber or not, sign the petition and demand that they drop Musk’s Starlink and live up to the company’s stated values.
Sign the petition here.
