Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed to U.S. Supreme Court
On Thursday, April 7, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed in a bipartisan vote of the Senate to be the first Black woman and the first public defender to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Jackson is an experienced, exceptionally qualified jurist who is devoted to the rule of law, the Constitution, and our country’s rich history of democracy and freedom. Her experience in matters of the law is exemplary.
Decisions made by the Supreme Court affect all our daily lives, and its decisions have shaped and will continue to shape who we are as a country. We can be proud that Ketanji Brown Jackson will now take her place on the highest court in the nation.
CFT extends thanks and gratitude to California Senators Dianne Feinsten and Alex Padilla who voted to confirm now Associate Justice Jackson.
CFT members testify at Assembly hearing on healthcare for part-time faculty
Thanks to the dozens of part-time faculty who testified this week on the pressing need for healthcare in front of the Assembly committee responsible for overseeing the California higher education budget. Just like in February, when CFT members gave similar testimony in the California Senate, those testifying today spoke from the heart about how the lack of access to quality, affordable healthcare has impacted not only them, but the students they serve.
The CFT campaign for part-time faculty healthcare has already found success – In his January budget proposal, Governor Newsom proposed $200 million in ongoing funding for part-time faculty healthcare.
But we’ve still got work to do. First up is making sure the Legislature follows suit to approve the funding. While the testimony this week was critical to raise awareness on the issue, everyone has a chance to contribute to the campaign. You can start by sending this letter to your state representatives, urging them to support the funding.
Head on over to the CFT part-time faculty campaign website for more information and other ways you can get involved, including links to our ongoing survey for part-time faculty.
CFT co-sponsors AB 1752, parity pay for part-time faculty in California’s community colleges
CFT is proud to co-sponsor AB 1752, a bill carried by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, that would mandate pay parity for part-time community college faculty.
In a press conference this week, CFT President Jeff Freitas urged the California Legislature to support the bill, because of the crucial impact it will have on faculty and students:
“Every day part-time faculty in our community colleges go above and beyond for California students. But part-time faculty are exploited across the state, hurting not only their ability to provide for themselves and their families, but their ability to be there for their students and communities as well,” said Jeff Freitas. “AB 1752 is critical to ensure that these valuable educators receive the pay and respect they deserve to do their important work.”
AB 1752 would compel community college districts to negotiate with local unions to provide equal pay for equal work for part-time faculty. It was heard and passed out of the Assembly Higher Education Committee this week and now moves on to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
California Labor Federation delegates met to make pre-primary endorsements
On Wednesday, April 6 CFT delegates from around the state joined their union siblings at the California Labor Federation’s virtual pre-primary convention, where endorsements were made in congressional, state legislative, and statewide constitutional officer races.
Now more than ever, it is critical that organized labor is united behind pro-worker and pro-public education candidates. A number of true champions for working people emerged as the consensus labor candidates: Liz Ortega in Assembly District 20, Pilar Schiavo in Assembly District 39, and Dave Jones in Senate District 8, among others, all received the Labor Fed’s endorsement for the June 7 Primary Election, and State Superintendent of Instruction Tony Thurmond was unanimously endorsed by the delegates.
CFT is excited to stand arm-in-arm with the house of labor to ensure that these great candidates and many others are elected this year. The full list of endorsed candidates is available on the Labor Fed’s website.
Congratulations to SCTA and SEIU 1021!
After an 8-day strike against the Sacramento Unified School District, the teachers of the Sacramento City Teachers Association and the classified workers of SEIU 1021 announced a deal with the district and returned to work at their school sites on Monday, April 4.
The new agreements include salary increases, increased pay for substitute teachers, additional sick leave and professional development days, and incentives to recruit and retain bus drivers for the classified unit, among other gains.
As always, CFT stands in solidarity with our union siblings when they stand up and fight for their members, their students, and their school communities. When we fight, we win!
