Campaigns
Quality Education
The CFT believes in full access to a high-quality education for every California student. Specifically, the CFT stands for the following issues:
Climate Justice
CFT becomes first U.S. union to adopt Climate Justice Agenda
The CFT made history in 2016 when it became the first statewide organization in the United States to adopt a Climate Justice Agenda. Delegates to the CFT Convention passed Resolution 29, committing the union to educating members about climate change, pushing for green legislation, moving toward divestment in fossil fuels, and establishing a Climate Justice Task Force within CFT.
Civil Rights
The CFT is committed to the universal rights of all human beings. Therefore, we work to protect and advance the civil and human rights of all our members and students, as well as all members of the communities we serve. We also recognize that advancing the rights of our members, students, and communities requires us to address those same issues within the CFT organization and across all segments of the education system, as well as in the broader context of our nation and world. Therefore, the CFT stands against social injustice, economic inequities, and all forms of discrimination.
Healthcare Reform
What can we do about the healthcare crisis?
Healthcare insurance costs are spiraling out of control. Twenty-eight million Americans are without healthcare coverage, including 2.9 million Californians. Premium cost increases are affecting the finances of schools (healthcare costs an average of 14.5% of payroll in California school districts today), and snarling collective bargaining. Corporations are forcing unions out on strike over reductions in or outright elimination of healthcare coverage.
Safe Havens
Ensuring safe workplaces for students and workers
A movement is underway in California and across the nation to protect our most vulnerable students and their families anti-immigrant actions. The CFT has created a Safe Havens Toolkit for educators, students and families with links and downloads from numerous advocacy organizations.
Standing Together
Standing together for our students and each other
The rules changed, but our commitment to our students didn’t. CFT members are fiercely dedicated to our students and their families because we believe in the power and promise of public education. We know that our profession, our schools, our colleges, and students are worth fighting for.
Tax Fairness
The Fight for California’s Future
Tax fairness asks the people who have the most ability to pay higher taxes—the wealthy and corporations — to pay their fair share to fund California’s schools and vital public services. Enacting progressive tax policies — like Proposition 30 in 2012, Prop. 55 in 2016, and fixing the commercial property tax system — is key to solving the overarching problem of growing economic inequality that plagues our state and country.
Retirement Security
The CFT is committed to ensuring that all CFT members have a safe source of retirement income. To achieve this goal, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) must ensure that they manage the pension contributions of CFT members in their best interests. The top priority in managing these contributions is ensuring adequate funds will be available in the future to provide for the retirement income promised to CFT members.