The amazing efforts of union members and several outstanding leaders will be recognized at CFT Convention. 

Ben Rust Award 

This year the Ben Rust award will be awarded by the CFT Convention Committee.

Learn more about former CFT President Ben Rust, the criteria for the award, and read short biographies of past recipients in our Ben Rust Award section.

Dean Murakami Award

Dean Murakami chaired the CFT Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Committee for multiple years, and brought hundreds of critical racial and social justice issues to the attention of our union; he introduced and helped pass countless resolutions on issues ranging from the internment of Japanese Americans to the Poor People’s Campaign. Dean, a psychology professor, long-time president of the Los Rios College Federation of Teachers, and a long-serving CFT Vice President, will forever be known for his advocacy of the marginalized.

CFT has instituted this award in Dean’s name and has the goal of bestowing this recognition on those individuals or organizations that demonstrate dedication, continuing commitment and advocacy to racial, social and climate justice issues in the workplace and beyond.

Deadline: February 3
Dean Murakami Racial, Social and Climate Justice Advocacy Award Nomination

Women in Education Award

The CFT established its Women in Education Award in 1981 to honor AFT/CFT locals and individual members for promoting the rights of women and issues of gender equity within an educational workplace.

Today, the Women in Education Award honors female members who exemplify the essence of the integral and crucial roles that women play in all aspects of our union’s culture, the union movement in general, and specifically the union movement within an educational setting. The award is presented at the CFT Convention.

Deadline: February 3