CFT Leadership Conference a chance to enhance JEDI powers
Last weekend nearly 150 CFT local leaders and activists gathered in Southern California to take part in the 2023 CFT Leadership Conference. The central focus of the conference was how educators and classified professionals can enhance their JEDI powers – Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
The conference was also an opportunity to bring CFT members together to sharpen up on critical skills to build the union and defend public education, including workshops on politics, organizing, and supporting immigrant students.
During the conference attendees were thrilled to hear from a series of inspiring speakers, including new Assembly member Rick Chavez Zbur, new state Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, and Yvonne Wheeler, the new President of the LA County Federation of Labor.
In her remarks Wheeler encouraged everyone to stay involved. “No matter what you look like, no matter where you come from, and no matter whom you love there is a place for you in this labor movement,” she shared.
Thanks to all those who took part in the conference, and your commitment to bring the energy and skills back to your unions and our schools.
Pictured above: The crew from Palomar Faculty Federation at the Leadership Conference.
Why California needs a wealth tax
Last month CFT President Jeff Freitas joined Assembly member Alex Lee in reintroducing a tax on extreme wealth in California. AB 259 and an accompanying proposed constitutional amendment, ACA 3, would raise taxes on the top .01% of Californians, raising critical revenues for our schools our essential public services by making sure billionaires and mega-millionaires pay what they owe in taxes
Now AFT Local 1931 Vice President Jim Miller weighs in with a timely op-ed offering a powerful justification for the wealth tax, urging California lawmakers to find the courage to act. He writes: “To really see the big picture of American inequality, one needs to focus not just on the obscenely huge income gap but also on the even more significant wealth gap.”
Read more here.
Black History: Celebration as Resistance
Check out AFT Share My Lesson’s second in a series of blog posts celebrating this year’s Black History Month theme: Black Resistance.
“So many Americans come from a culture of resistance—where we are called upon to reject false narratives and unashamedly embrace our history,” writes AFT’s Heidi Goger.
Read the blog post and check out more Black History Month resources here.
Buy union for the Super Bowl
With the Super Bowl just two days away, make sure your party is union made. Find more at aflcio.org.
