CFT United
Keith Boykin and Jane Elliot inspire delegates to continue fight for racial and social justice
By Emily Wilson
Keynote speakers at the CFT Convention included political commentator and white House aide to President Bill Clinton, Keith Boykin, and anti-racism activist Jane Elliot.
Seventeen resolutions debated at CFT Convention
At the 2023 CFT Convention delegates debated 17 resolutions on issues ranging from a wealth tax to a classified employee rally at the capitol to retirement education for part-timers.
One of the resolutions for stronger gun regulations, background checks, and reinstating a national ban on assault weapons inspired particularly lively discussion with the speakers in agreement.
Convention delegates rally for the schools San Francisco students and communities deserve
By Emily Wilson
On the lunch break during the convention on Saturday, delegates crossed the street from the hotel to San Francisco’s Union Square to rally for the schools that San Francisco students and communities deserve. While a brass band played, people waved signs with messages like “Love Won’t Pay the Rent,” and “CCSF is the Heartbeat of San Francisco,” and chanted, “Get up, get down, San Francisco is a union town.”
Featured panel spotlights four incredible women organizers
During the featured panel discussion on Saturday afternoon at the 2023 CFT Convention, four incredible women shared the work their unions are doing in their communities to fight for education, worker, and labor justice
At 2023 CFT Convention delegates unite for justice and for education
Unions are having a resurgence as more and more people, particularly young people, realize how important they are for workers. Guns, not drag queens, present a danger to children. And the CFT plans to fight for a 50 percent raise for workers over the next five years.
Anthony Rendon and Nancy Skinner win CFT Legislators of the Year awards
At the 2023 CFT Convention both State Senator Nancy Skinner and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon received CFT Legislator of the Year awards.
Cathy Campbell, retired president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, and Jennifer Shanoski, President of the Peralta Federation of Teachers, said that Skinner had had an influence on their lives by advocating for women to get involved in politics (Shanoski was elected recently to the Berkeley school board) and by always advocating for labor and education.
Luukia Smith wins Ben Rust Award
At the CFT Awards Dinner, along with giving out the Ben Rust Award to Luukia Smith, the union also honored Belinda Lum with the inaugural award named for Dean Murakami, and Jenny Ferrero and Barbara Baer with the Women in Education Award.
Performer, Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, and co-founder of San Francisco’s Transgender District Honey Mahogany, wearing a ruffled black dress and a gold bow, acted as Mistress of Ceremonies.