CFT leadership-staff retreat moves the Federation forward Print E-mail
cft retreat 3
CFT Executive Council members and staff work
together to develop ideas to strengthen the CFT
and its locals by identifying opportunities and
challenges for public education and unions.
On June 13 and 14, about 65 people gathered for a Staff and Executive Council Retreat at Cal Poly Pomona. The retreat was attended by a number of Executive Council members, staff members of the Field Representatives Union and the Office and Professional Employees International Union, and management.

The retreat opened with CFT President Josh Pechthalt and Secretary Treasurer Jeff Freitas presenting on the Future of CFT: Resources, Roles and Responsibilities of CFT Staff and Executive Council. Participants then divided into groups and discussed how to strengthen CFT’s statewide and local political program. An examination of the attack on public education and public sector unions followed.

In a letter to participants after the retreat, CFT President Josh Pechthalt and Secretary Treasurer Jeff Freitas said they believed much had been accomplished and that “there seemed to be a real energy and commitment to move the organization forward in a more coordinated and strategic way.”

Discussion in the retreat paralleled previous action by the CFT Executive Council to create a new 11-member Strategic Campaign Committee. Co-chaired by Kimberly Claytor, president of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, Local 1794, and Alisa Messer, president of the San Francisco Community College Federation of Teachers, Local 2121, this new SCI Executive Council committee was created to advance CFT’s recently designed Strategic Campaign Initiative, blending and coordinating our organizing and political work.

The SCI is up and running, implementing a grant program called Political Leaders Unified to Create Change (PLUCC), which is designed to build political organizing experience and power in CFT locals. Matching funds in the range of $500 to $3500 per month will be granted to support a dedicated political leader in qualifying locals. These positions will assist with organizing COPE drives and building community coalition efforts.