Standing Together for Education.
Classified School Employee Week celebrates the support staff and paraprofessionals who help our early childhood centers, schools, and colleges succeed. Classified employees perform essential work, but it is often behind the scenes. This is our week to put classified work front and center. In 2025, Classified School Employee Week is May 18-24.
The month of May was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, during the beginning of the California Gold Rush. It also marks the anniversary of the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869. Most of the workers who laid the tracks that connected the frontier to the rest of the country were Chinese immigrants.
CFT members from across the state were in Sacramento last week to formally launch AB 477 (Muratsuchi), a bill that would make transformational investments in school funding at a time when low wages are driving teachers and school staff out of the profession we love, and as attacks and threats from the Trump administration on public education are making our work even more difficult.
Hundreds of delegates at the CFT convention at the Westin San Diego Gaslamp debated and voted on resolutions like “Oppose All Efforts to Privatize Social Security and Support Efforts to Stabilize the System,” “Ending Tax Breaks and Subsidies for Fossil Fuels in California,” and “Increase Public Funding for the University of California.” They attended workshops such as “Education Code Basics,” “Bringing Resources to the Immigrant Community by Empowering our Members,” and “Winning Local School Board Elections.” They also heard from two panels — “Organizing to Win in Sunol Glen,” about the tow
Near the end of her speech, Palm Springs City Councilmember and former Mayor Lisa Middleton quoted Anglo-Irish political thinker Edmund Burke, as a comment on the president. “Rudeness is a weak man’s imitation of strength.”
Middleton, a guest speaker at the CFT convention, came to talk about the challenges ahead – which are significant under the current Trump administration. Middleton knows a thing or two about challenges.
By Jeffery M. Freitas, CFT President
Why did you come?
I wanted to get more information, because we went from a 40% in our membership last year, to 70% and we’ve been getting a lot of involvement with our members. They’ve been asking a lot of questions, and they are eager to know more about the union. I’m here to give more information, and that way I can take it back to them and provide that information.
What’s been the highlight for you?
February 25, 2025 update: Social Security administration announces schedule to start issuing retroactive payments in February and increase monthly benefit payments beginning in April.
Previous update (January 15, 2025):
The Social Security Fairness Act (HR 82) was signed into law by President Biden on January 5, 2025.
What does the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) do?
Members of a new CFT task force have been working on coming up with actions, both legislation and bargaining, to address the problem of understaffing in schools.
Prior to the formation of the task force, EC/TK-12 Council President Steve McDougall says he and CFT President Jeff Freitas discussed the importance of addressing the issue of understaffing.
Celebrating Classified Professionals!
Ventura County Field Office
Webinar
Webinar
Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, Burlingame
