Newsroom
State of the Union: Merged measure calls for the largest single tax increase on the rich in California history
By Joshua Pechthalt, CFT President
We all know the challenge to maintain salaries and benefits and keep our members working has never been more difficult. But in spite of difficulties, our members and local leaders continue to organize and win victories.
Lobby Day: Members bring local reality to legislators in Sacramento
Union brings back Lobby Day to give CFT greater voice in Capitol
Gathering for CFT Lobby Days, members traveled from Southern California, the Central Valley, and the Bay Area to ask their elected officials in Sacramento to do the right thing for public education.
Pajaro Valley community succeeds in banning carcinogenic methyl iodide
Teachers at Ohlone Elementary School were greatly relieved when Arysta LifeScience, a Japanese chemical company, announced on March 20 that it would no longer sell methyl iodide in the United States for use as a pesticide.
Arizona outlaws core Mexican-American Studies program
Tucson High School teacher recounts story of textbook and curricula ban
A few days before she traveled to CFT Convention in San Jose, María C. Federico Brummer received an email at 8 p.m. from the Tucson Unified School District. It contained a list of newly banned books that the district wanted packed by noon the next day. During class, her students watched her comb the cabinets and remove classroom sets of the affected titles.
Lawndale organizes workers in afterschool program
District voluntarily recognizes 90 workers who provide enrichment to district students
More than 90 academic support employees staffing a successful extracurricular program in the Lawndale Elementary School District recently joined the ranks of the AFT, granting them the same workplace rights as unionized classified employees in the Los Angeles County K-8 district.
Labor leads opposition to two-tier fee plan at Santa Monica
Faculty and students defend the working class on International Workers’ Day
It took the pepper-spraying of 30 Santa Monica College student protestors to put the brakes on a two-tier pricing plan that threatens to deny higher education to thousands of students.
Classics lecturer maintains classic ideas about unions
New local president Rundin says union makes lecturer job worth having
Classics lecturer John Rundin feels privileged to pass on to another generation the cultural treasures that were given to him by the previous generation. The teacher of Latin and ancient Greek is one of two recipients of this year’s Award for Excellence in Teaching from the UC Davis Academic Federation.
“I live my job, love what I do, and I love my students,” says Rundin. “It is a great honor.”
Honored academic Axel Borg a driving force at UC Davis
Agricultural sciences librarian excels at organizing information and colleagues
Long-time UC Davis reference librarian Axel Borg wears so many hats that he received the James H. Meyer Distinguished Achievement Award from the Academic Federation last year. Borg has served on three of its committees, including the one which names the Federation president each year.
March in March voices rising anger with increasing cuts
Faculty, students, and staff demand Millionaires Tax at state Capitol rally
Getting on the bus at UC Berkeley on March 5, Desiree Angelo acknowledged how hard it has been to get to her senior year there. “I was a transfer student, a high school dropout, and a low-income student too,” she recalled.
“Because I dropped out, I don’t quality for a lot of financial aid. To afford the fees, which have gone from $5100 to $7100 a semester while I’ve been here, I’ve had to work in the dining hall. The discussion sessions for my classes have been cut, and with 500 students in a class, we really need them. So I’m paying more, getting less, and working like crazy just to stay here.”
Berkeley workers succeed in quest for AFT representation
Operations and support workers reunite with colleagues in Local 6192
For nearly a decade, classified employees in the Berkeley Unified School District were divided between two unions, but when a majority of operations and support workers signed petitions to be represented by the Berkeley Council of Classified Employees, AFT Local 6192, they were reunited. In December the school board agreed to the workers’ decision.
Darling-Hammond charts path to fair teacher evaluation
Stanford education professor encourages teachers to stay the course despite difficulties
Linda Darling-Hammond applauded teachers who are struggling with classes of 35, and even 45 students, sometimes without desks or textbooks, while the misplaced focus on teacher evaluation has become a drum beat.
New retiree chapters offer social connection, wield political clout
Expertise of post-career members brings valuable asset to mid-size local unions
Although it began as a social group, the recently chartered retiree chapter of the ABC Federation of Teachers has become increasingly political, says its president, Gayle Pekrul. “Many retirees are not interested in just being social — they want to be involved in the issues.”