FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals

Contact: Matthew Hardy, 510-703-5291

Sacramento, CA — CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals announced today that its members voted to oppose Proposition 43 on the November ballot. Proposition 43 would require citizen sponsored local tax measures to pass with a two-thirds vote instead of a simple majority. This undermines the will of voters and makes it significantly harder to fund local essential services like police and fire, infrastructure improvements, and funding for local schools. 

CFT released the following statement from President Jeff Freitas:

“Proposition 43 is nothing more than an attempt by corporate special interests to buy our elections and undermine our democracy. But CFT members are confident that voters will see through this blatant power grab and vote to keep our elections in the hands of the voters who feel the effects of local measures most acutely.

“As Trump and his cronies in DC are actively working to undermine public education funding and attacking our students, it is critical that local communities get to decide where their tax money goes – to ensure we can keep class sizes down and invest in arts programs and mental health services for our students.

“This ballot measure is about protecting corporate interests, not local taxpayers and communities. California’s educators and classified professionals will be encouraging our neighbors to vote No on Prop 43 this November.”

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CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals represents 120,000 teachers, faculty, and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education. It is the statewide affiliate of the AFT. More information at www.cft.org.