Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

October 6, 2023 at 9:32 PM

Inside CFT: Virtual CFT Senate Candidate Forum set for Saturday, October 14

October 14 CFT U.S. Senate Candidate Forum Thanks to the hundreds of CFT members who have RSVPd for the 2023 CFT Senate Candidate Forum. The online forum, which will take place on October 14 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, will feature the three leading candidates for the upco…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

October 5, 2023 at 9:27 PM

Urge Governor Newsom to sign AB 811 and restore repeatability community colleges

Dear John, Please take a moment to urge Governor Newsom to sign AB 811 to allow students to repeat certain credit courses. Community colleges have seen devastating impacts because of the restrictions on repeatability that went into effect in 2013. Repeatability allows studen…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

October 3, 2023 at 11:38 PM

Register now for the October 14 CFT U.S. Senate Candidate Forum featuring Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, and Adam Schiff

Register now for the October 14 CFT U.S. Senate Candidate Forum All CFT members are invited to attend the 2023 CFT Senate Candidate Forum on Saturday, October 14 from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. The online forum will feature the three leading candidates for the upcoming U.S. Senate e…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

September 29, 2023 at 10:15 PM

Inside CFT: Take action on two critical bills for education workers

Take action on two critical bills for education workers Please take a moment to sign two critical online letters, urging Governor Newsom to support public education workers. #1 – Urge Governor Newsom to give part-time classified staff the right of first refusal to open jobs …

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

September 22, 2023 at 10:34 PM

Inside CFT: Student loan payments resume: AFT debt clinics can help

Student loan payments resume: AFT debt clinics can help After a three-year hiatus that began during the pandemic, student loan payments are set to resume October 1. To help ease the transition, the U.S. Department of Education has made some changes, including much more genero…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

September 15, 2023 at 10:59 PM

Inside CFT: Eleven CFT priority bills make it to Governor Newsom’s desk

Eleven CFT priority bills make it to Governor Newsom’s desk This week eleven of the CFT-sponsored and cosponsored bills introduced this year in the State Capitol were passed either the California State Senate or Assembly and are now on to the Governor’s desk For a quick rund…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

September 8, 2023 at 10:25 PM

Inside CFT: Progress in Sacramento - Adam Schiff speaks up for ArtCenter faculty

Progress in Sacramento as CFT supported bills make it past key legislative committees Last week all 13 of the CFT-sponsored and cosponsored bills introduced this year in the State Capitol were passed out of the appropriations committees of either the California State Senate o…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

September 1, 2023 at 11:27 PM

Inside CFT: Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day! On Labor Day, we reflect on working people’s victories. Unions are more popular this Labor Day than at any time in more than 50 years⁠—with 71% of Americans now approving of unions. But this momentum didn’t happen by accident. Working people have organized t…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

August 28, 2023 at 10:53 PM

Take Action! Urge CA lawmakers to restore repeatability opportunities in community colleges

Take Action! Urge CA lawmakers to restore repeatability opportunities in community colleges Dear John, Please take a moment to urge members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to support AB 811 (Fong) to allow students to repeat certain credit courses. Community colleges …

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

August 25, 2023 at 10:46 PM

Inside CFT: Dominican University faculty celebrate their first contract

Back to School spotlight: Dominican University faculty celebrate their first contract This week the CFT Back to School tour had stops at the Dominican University, Lawndale Elementary School District, the French American International School, Cabrillo College, and Long Beach…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

August 24, 2023 at 6:14 PM

Take action to support AB 938 – Increase funding for TK-12 salaries by 50% over 7 years

Take action to support AB 938 – Increase funding for TK-12 salaries by 50% over 7 years Dear John, As the new school year gets underway, once again school districts from throughout the state are facing severe staffing shortages, and we must do our part to urge our elected …

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

August 19, 2023 at 6:59 PM

Safety precautions during Hurricane Hilary

Important information for CFT members as Hurricane Hilary approaches Dear John, As we are sure you are aware, the National Weather Service is predicting that Hurricane Hilary will impact Southern California with possible dangerous and life threatening wind and rain through M…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

August 18, 2023 at 10:30 PM

Inside CFT: Wages should be front in center when addressing staffing shortages

CFT President Jeff Freitas reminds teacher recruitment summit that wages matter With severe staffing shortages continuing to impact school districts across the state, this week State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a teacher recruitment summit at the…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

August 15, 2023 at 5:56 PM

Take action for healthy, sustainable, and climate friendly schools

Dear John, Please take a moment to sign the CFT petition urging Governor Newsom and Assemblymember Holden to support the passage of SB 394 to create a Statewide Master Plan for Healthy, Sustainable, and Climate-Resilient Schools. As California’s climate changes and extreme w…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

August 11, 2023 at 10:46 PM

Inside CFT: CFT kicks of 2023 Back to School Tour

CFT back to school tour kicks off with Jefferson AFT Federation of Teachers On Monday CFT President Jeff Freitas, Council of Classified Employees President Carl Williams, and EC/TK-12 Council President Steve McDougall visited Westmoor High School in Daly City to kick off th…

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  Jeff Freitas · [email protected]

August 4, 2023 at 8:19 PM

Inside CFT: AFT in the clear on House investigation on schools reopening during the pandemic

AFT in the clear on House investigation on schools reopening during the pandemic Despite a lengthy and partisan investigation, conservatives on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic have found no evidence that the nation’s largest teachers unions had und…

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  Jeff Freitas · [email protected]

July 28, 2023 at 8:07 PM

Inside CFT: Adjunct Faculty local organizes to defeat flag ban in North Orange County

Adjunct Faculty local organizes to defeat flag ban in North Orange County Photographer: Gaston "Gus" Castellanos (he/him) Earlier this week, the North Orange county Community College board vetoed a motion that would have banned the pride flag on campus. AdFac leadership mobil…

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  CFT Newsroom · [email protected]

July 27, 2023 at 8:23 PM

Classified Insider: Classified Conference set for October, Lawndale healthcare win and more

Save the date! The annual Classified Conference is set for October 27th-29th. Classified Conference October 27th-29th Registration and hotel booking will open on August 29th and closes on October 12th. Stay tuned for more updates! Palomar College staff come togethe…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

July 21, 2023 at 10:48 PM

Inside CFT: CFT members find success advocating at the State Capitol this summer

CFT members find success advocating at the State Capitol this summer This summer CFT members have been busy at the State Capitol building, advocating for key legislation to improve public education in California. Included among them was Oranit Limmaneeprasert from the Los Rio…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

July 14, 2023 at 8:44 PM

Inside CFT: State budget nets 8.22% COLA for K-14 schools, but more work needs to be done

State budget nets 8.22% COLA for K-14 schools, but more work needs to be done Despite the state facing a deficit of billions of dollars, the 2023-2024 California state budget provides a substantial increase in public school funding and the protection of critical funding strea…

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  CFT Newsroom · [email protected]

July 12, 2023 at 5:47 PM

Part-Timer | CFT locals win part-time healthcare, key legislation backing part-timers, new taskforce on eliminating the two-tier system

From north to south, CFT locals win healthcare for part-time faculty Following our historic victory last year securing $200 million dollars annually for part-time healthcare, unions at twelve community college districts represented by CFT have settled agreements with their d…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

July 7, 2023 at 10:50 PM

Inside CFT: CFT-sponsored legislation on raising funding for wages moves through key Senate committee

AB 938 passes Senate Education Committee This week the California Senate Education Committee voted to approve AB 938 with five yes votes and two abstentions. CFT-sponsored AB 938 would raise state funding that would equate to raising TK-12 certificated and classified employe…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

June 30, 2023 at 10:32 PM

Inside CFT: Members sharpen union skills at CFT Summer School

Members sharpen union skills at CFT Summer School Thanks to the 100+ CFT members who attended our CFT Summer School this week in Southern California. The weeklong intensive training is an opportunity for leaders and activists to sharpen union skills, plan, and connect to prep…

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  Jeff Freitas · [email protected]

June 23, 2023 at 8:06 PM

Inside CFT: Dolores Huerta, Lorena Gonzales, Tony Thurmond rally for ArtCenter faculty

Dolores Huerta, Lorena Gonzales, Tony Thurmond rally for ArtCenter faculty Faculty, students and dozens of allies rallied at ArtCenter’s south campus on Thursday June 22. ArtCenter Federation members displayed a petition for strike readiness with hundreds of member signature…

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  Jeff Freitas · [email protected]

June 16, 2023 at 9:07 PM

Inside CFT: Celebrating Juneteenth

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Toda…

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  Jeff Freitas · [email protected]

June 9, 2023 at 9:26 PM

Inside CFT: Healthcare victory at Lawndale for classified union

Healthcare victory at Lawndale For thirty years, the Lawndale Elementary School District denied their part time classified employees health benefits. In fact, the district’s previous superintendent would schedule these employees so that they were just fifteen minutes under …

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

June 2, 2023 at 9:41 PM

Inside CFT: Celebrating Pride Month

CFT Celebrates Pride Month CFT is proud to join communities across the state and country celebrating Pride Month this year. The first Pride celebration took place on June 28, 1970 to commemorate the Stonewall uprising, when protests swept New York to resist police brutality …

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

May 26, 2023 at 10:28 PM

Inside CFT: Two CFT members honored with classified employee of the year awards

Two CFT members honored with 2023 community college classified employee of the year awards This week, as we celebrated Classified School Employee Week, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors honored five classified professionals who provide outstanding service s…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

May 19, 2023 at 10:55 PM

Inside CFT: Celebrating Classified School Employee Week

Celebrating Classified School Employee Week Classified School Employee Week, which takes place May 21-27 this year, celebrates the support staff and paraprofessionals who help our early childhood centers, schools, and colleges succeed. Classified employees perform essential …

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

May 12, 2023 at 10:54 PM

Inside CFT: Teacher Appreciation Week – Turning admiration into action

Teacher Appreciation Week – Turning admiration into action As Teacher Appreciation Week comes to a close, CFT members throughout the state are being showered with gift cards, flowers, heartfelt drawings, and other expressions of appreciation from our students and families. …

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

May 5, 2023 at 10:39 PM

Inside CFT: CFT members are organizing across the state for the pay and respect they deserve

Culver City teachers demand the pay and respect they deserve The Culver City Federation of Teachers are locked in contentious contract talks with their district over issues of compensation. Despite record funding from the state and high inflation, district negotiators initi…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

May 4, 2023 at 8:42 PM

Take Action! Urge lawmakers to increase funding for TK-12 salaries by 50%

Dear John, Staffing shortages in our public schools have reached a moment of crisis and we need our elected leaders in Sacramento to take action. Sign the petition: Urge CA lawmakers to support AB 938 CFT-sponsored AB 938 would increase funding for K-12 salaries by 50% over…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

April 28, 2023 at 10:49 PM

Inside CFT: Bill to increase funding for K-12 pay by 50% unanimously passes key committee

CFT members came to Sacramento this week to advocate for stronger support for public education We had a fantastic day in Sacramento on Wednesday, as over 100 CFT members from throughout the state came up to the State Capitol to urge lawmakers to support public schools in Cal…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

April 21, 2023 at 9:53 PM

Inside CFT: Addressing staffing shortages takes center stage

CFT-sponsored AB 938 would raise funding for TK-12 to support bargaining efforts to increase salaries by 50% Last week Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi introduced a bill in the state legislature with a goal to provide districts with increased funding for both certificated and cla…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

April 14, 2023 at 10:38 PM

Inside CFT: AFT 1521 in Los Angeles secures major healthcare settlement

AFT 1521 in Los Angeles secures major healthcare settlement Earlier today dozens of leaders and members from AFT Local 1521, the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, were joined by officials from their college to announce a breakthrough agreement that secures affordable health…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

April 7, 2023 at 8:58 PM

Inside CFT: Voting for Democracy

Voting for Democracy While the 2022 mid-term election feels like just yesterday, the 2024 election is just around the corner and we know that education is on the table. From pay for educators and classified staff, to class sizes, to school vouchers – one side seeks to destroy…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

March 31, 2023 at 10:24 PM

Inside CFT: Randi Weingarten delivers major address in defense of public education

Randi Weingarten delivers major address in defense of public education This Tuesday, March 28, AFT President Randi Weingarten delivered a major address, titled “In Defense of Public Education.” In the address she enumerated the many threats against our public schools, which…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

March 24, 2023 at 9:00 PM

Inside CFT: 2023 CFT Biennial Convention a success

CFT member delegates take part in 2023 Biennial Convention in San Francisco After four years of not meeting in person, CFT members met in San Francisco this past weekend at our Biennial Convention, under the theme United for Justice, United for Education. Delegates partici…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

March 10, 2023 at 11:49 PM

Inside CFT: CFT members speak out for their students and their jobs

Salinas teachers demand action from their district Last Saturday dozens of members of the Salinas Valley Federation of Teachers, students, and supporters rallied in front of the Salinas Union High School District’s job fair. According to SVFT President Kati Bassler the rall…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

March 3, 2023 at 10:01 PM

Inside CFT: Celebrating Women’s History Month

Celebrating Women’s History Month Women’s History Month is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the contributions women have made to our culture and society and reflect on women who have fought for change in labor, education, science, the arts, and politics. Originally …

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

February 25, 2023 at 12:13 AM

Inside CFT: SF teachers and paras take a stand for the schools their students deserve

SF teachers and paras take a stand for the schools their students deserve Hundreds of members of the United Educators of San Francisco delivered more than 3,800 petition signatures to the San Francisco Board of Education on Tuesday in support of a contract bargaining platfo…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

February 17, 2023 at 11:07 PM

Inside CFT: National movement builds to address teacher pay crisis

National movement builds to address teacher pay crisis Earlier this week Senator Bernie Sanders joined AFT President Randi Weingarten, NEA President Becky Pringle, and fellow educators from throughout the country in a virtual town hall on addressing the educator staffing cris…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

February 10, 2023 at 11:44 PM

Inside CFT: CFT Leadership Conference a chance to enhance JEDI powers

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 profess…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

February 3, 2023 at 10:01 PM

Inside CFT: CFT Celebrates Black History Month

CFT celebrates Black History Month As February gets underway, CFT joins communities across the country in celebrating Black History Month. This month is an opportunity to recognize the critical contributions African Americans have made to our country and our communities, and…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

January 27, 2023 at 10:58 PM

Inside CFT: CFT-sponsored wealth tax introduced in California Assembly

CFT-sponsored wealth tax introduced in California Assembly In a coordinated effort with seven other states, this week CFT President Jeff Freitas and Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San José) reintroduced a tax on extreme wealth in California as AB 259 and an accompanying proposed…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

January 20, 2023 at 11:06 PM

Inside CFT: Tell UC management to bargain in good faith with UCLA Lab School teachers

Tell UC management to bargain in good faith with UCLA Lab School teachers For over a year demonstration teachers at the UCLA Lab School have been fighting for their rights to negotiate about the aspects of their work that most impact their students. UC management refuses to …

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

January 13, 2023 at 9:57 PM

Inside CFT: Governor’s budget proposal protects schools, but more still to be done

Governor’s budget proposal protects schools, but more still to be done On Tuesday Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his initial budget proposal for the upcoming 2023-2024 fiscal year. Although the state of California is facing a $22.5 billion budget gap for the upcoming year, pu…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

January 6, 2023 at 9:56 PM

Inside CFT: New year brings renewed focus on standing up for our work and our schools

New year brings renewed focus on standing up for our work and our schools CFT members throughout the state returned to work this week, with many others just days away from returning to campuses and classrooms. For many this school year has been one of the most difficult of th…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

December 16, 2022 at 8:21 PM

Inside CFT - Over 40,000 books given away at Reading Opens the World event in Pico Rivera

Over 40,000 books given away at Reading Opens the World event in Pico Rivera On Saturday, December 10 the El Rancho Federation of Teachers, with the support of AFT, CFT, and First Book, distributed over 40,000 books to the families of Pico Rivera. The event was part of a na…

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  Jeffery Freitas · [email protected]

December 9, 2022 at 9:59 PM

Inside CFT: Organizing is the key to addressing teacher and staff shortages

Organizing is the key to addressing teacher and staff shortages A new report released this week by the Economic Policy Institute confirms what school communities across the state already know: there is a dire educator and school worker shortage which is severely impacting our…

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