• 2006 CFT Legislative Report (PDF)
• Governor's STRS/PERS "reform" a bad idea
• Fixing the health care crisis after Prop 72
• What CFT members can do about the state budget crisis
• California Budget Project
• California Tax Reform Association
• Contact your state Senator
• Contact your state Assemblymember

CFT members celebrate hard-won victories

Members of the Greater Santa Cruz Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 2030 on election night toasted the victories of their school board candidates, including long-time AFT activist Don Maxwell (in white shirt and blue jeans). Moving simultaneously north and overseas, click here to view Manchester Guardian video coverage of the San Francisco Labor Council post-election party, featuring interviews with United Educators of San Francisco members Ken Tray and Susan Solomon.

Statement by CFT President Mary Bergan on California election results

AFT members in California contributed an enormous amount of time, energy, and money to our election campaign, and I want to thank each of you for your dedication to public education and to our union cause. Although we failed to prevail in the gubernatorial race, we passed the state school bond, Proposition ID, and stopped Proposition 88, which would have prevented real public education budget reform from taking place for a long time. We also helped elect friends of public education to nearly every statewide office.

Clearly, before we are going to be able to elect someone of Phil Angelides's character, honesty and vision to the governor's seat we will have to do much more work with the electorate about what it takes to fund quality public education. The magnitude of that task means it is not something we can accomplish during an election campaign. It can only occur over the long term. As we return to focusing on our jobs in education, let's keep in mind that other kind of "public education:" educating the public about the importance of the schools, of vital services like public health care and safety, and the progressive tax policies it will take to properly support the public sector so that every service and program we provide is the highest quality it can be.

Mary Bergan
CFT President

Statement by AFT President Ed McElroy on national election results

Last night was a great victory for labor and for working families. Your hard work and dedication made it happen. AFT was at phone banks around the country; on labor walks; at work sites - doing the everyday, basic work of winning elections. I am proud of all of you.

Our victories don't mean that the work is over - in fact, it is just beginning. For one thing, we'll have to make sure that those elected last night remember the commitments made to the people who elected them.

I want all of you to savor the victories, take some time to recuperate and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. I am exceedingly proud of our AFT family.

Again, thank you.

Edward J. McElroy
President
AFT, AFL-CIO

Two of the many unsung local heroes who contributed their time and energy during the election campaign, members of United Educators of San Francisco Darcie Blackburn (left) and Cathy Sullivan. Matthew Hardy photo