Meeting spotlights education funding, divesting STRS from
gun manufacturers, education reform, state of
labor movement
March 20-22, 2015, Manhattan Beach—More than five hundred
teachers and school support staff gathered at the Manhattan Beach
Marriott over the past weekend for the 73rd annual California
Federation of Teachers convention. This year’s theme of
“Organize, Fight Back, Win the Future” laid out the challenges
facing public education and how the CFT plans to respond to the
anti-teacher, anti-union education reform agenda driven by
corporate interests. Featured speakers included State
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, Controller
Betty Yee, professor and author Jeff Duncan-Andrade, and CFT
president Joshua Pechthalt, who delivered his annual State of the
Union address.