CFT members step up in historic Prop. 50 victory!
Thanks to all the CFT members who volunteered for the Prop. 50 campaign, knocking on doors and making phone calls to help propel the critical initiative to a supermajority YES vote! The incredible volunteer effort was a testament to our members understanding the high stakes involved in the campaign. With Texas, Missouri, Utah, and North Carolina redistricting this year in order to ensure President Trump is not held accountable in the next Congress, Prop. 50 was absolutely necessary to unrig the upcoming election.
In thanking CFT members for their efforts in a statement on Tuesday, CFT President Jeff Freitas promised that CFT will continue to organize.
“CFT will always fight for our students, our schools, and our communities,” said Freitas. “In the year ahead we will continue to work with the parents and families we serve to protect our public schools and our democracy, including making sure we elect a Congress that understands its critical role in checking the drive toward authoritarianism by the Trump administration.”
Supporting our members and communities impacted by Trump SNAP cuts
Despite a court order, the Trump administration continues to deny SNAP benefits to over 42 million people, dealing a devastating blow to some of the most vulnerable families in our country. 5.5 million Californians rely on CalFresh/SNAP benefits, including 276,000 community college students and 58,000 UC students.
We can do our part to help aid our fellow Californians in their time of need by donating or volunteering at a local food bank. For more on how you can get involved, check out our mutual aid toolkit.
Nov. 10 webinar – Lessons from South Korean unions on defending democracy
The AFT, in conjunction with the Albert Shanker Institute and APALA, will host a discussion on Monday with Korean labor leaders who have been active in ongoing work in South Korea to mobilize communities and strengthen democracy. This webinar will go beyond the recent protests to martial law, share examples of motivating tactics and strategies, and tell the story of longstanding resistance to dictatorship. Begins at 2:00 p.m. PT. Register here.
News in Brief
Nov. 10 CalSTRS retirement webinar. All CFT members in CalSTRS are invited to attend our next virtual training on the retirement system on November 10 from 4:00–5:30 p.m. Find out more in-depth information about your CalSTRS benefits, the difference between earned and purchased service credit, and ways to bridge the gap between your CalSTRS benefit and your retirement income goal. Register here.
AFT lawsuit secures Trump administration agreement to reopen student debt relief. AFT recently had a huge win holding the Department of Education and student loan servicers accountable and protecting access to income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Read more about the victory here, and how it could impact you, and consider attending AFT’s next virtual student debt clinic on Nov. 13.
CFT celebrates Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s decades of leadership. With news this week that Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi will retire at the end of her current term, CFT President Jeff Freitas released a statement celebrating her historic career: “Nancy Pelosi is a leader our students will learn about in history books for generations to come,” said Freitas.
Celebrate Veterans Day with Share My Lesson
This Tuesday is Veterans Day, when we honor those who have served in our armed forces. To help educators bring the importance of this day into their classrooms, check out this range of teaching resources for preK-12 students from Share My Lesson.
