A message from Josh Print E-mail
On May 19, 2011 Jeff Freitas and I were honored to assume the positions of Secretary Treasurer and President, respectively, of the CFT. Our election at the March CFT convention was a clear mandate from the delegates to energize the organization as we take up the challenge of a statewide budget crisis and the attack on public education. During the past 60 day transition period, we have worked with CFT elected leadership and staff to encourage participation in the May 9 - 13 “Week of Action” to defend public education and essential public services.

In order to adequately respond to this crisis and the unprecedented assault on organized labor, we must strengthen our union at every level. That begins by activating our members and building union power at the workplace. In the coming months, we want to expand our Fight For California’s Future campaign while helping our locals deepen their organizing work. Jeff and I hope to visit as many of our 140 locals as possible. We want to talk directly with our members about the issues we confront and our strategy for responding to this crisis.

We also want to use the latest technology to connect with our members across the state. In preparation for our Week of Action, we were fortunate to work with the AFT to hold several teleconferences for local presidents and members. During those calls we were able to discuss the statewide mobilization for public education, the importance of the tax extensions, and how the CFT is pushing AB 1130 and other progressive tax reform solutions.

The tele-town hall meetings were a tremendous success. In two sessions and with robo-calls going out to every member that has a home number listed, we had more than four thousand people joining the calls. We hope this direct communication with our members will be the first of many such calls.

During the Week of Action, CFT leaders and rank and file members were involved in many activities across the state. CFT leaders spoke at numerous events and thousands of our members joined with CTA members in rallies organized in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento. The upcoming Inside CFT e-newsletter and other publications will detail the many activities our members participated in across the state.

During these past two months, Jeff and I have worked hard to make this union leadership transition as smooth as possible, knowing full well that the on-going crisis demands we hit the ground running. I can honestly say that we are both humbled by the responsibility and excited by the challenge.

As we move into our new positions we must acknowledge several outstanding leaders for their lifelong commitment to the labor movement and their invaluable contribution to the CFT. Marty Hittelman has been an outstanding president and it was his commitment to Proposition 25, the Majority Budget Act, that placed the CFT out front in getting the measure passed by California voters last November. Marty has been enormously helpful in this transition and will continue to be a source of counsel in the coming years.

Dennis Smith, the outgoing Secretary Treasurer, has been an important leader in the organization and his expertise and dedication helped put the CFT on a secure financial footing.

We also want to wish CFT Vice President Laura Rico a bon voyage. Since her first election as president of the ABC Federation of Teachers in 1994, she has represented her local, as well as serving as a vice president of the CFT, the AFT and the national AFL-CIO.

And finally, we want to bid farewell to Margaret Shelleda. Margaret has served as assistant to the President of the CFT, and more recently, Executive Director, for 10 years. She has been the glue that has held CFT together. Her lifelong commitment to the labor movement and the struggle for social justice will continue to inspire all of us. Margaret may be retiring but her cell phone number will still be on our speed dial list.

We wish them all good luck but feel confident that we will see them regularly at marches, picket lines and helping out the CFT.

Thanks to all of you for making this organization such a vital force in the labor movement and we look forward to working with you in the coming months and years.

In Unity,

Joshua Pechthalt
President

Jeffery Freitas
Secretary Treasurer