Take Action
Join the Union
You deserve to have a union on your side!
Being a union member is the single most effective path to advocating for your profession and those you educate. Every educator deserves union representation, whether you are full-time, part-time, classified or certificated, higher education or preschool, working in public education or at a private school or university.
Action Center
Take action on the issues that matter most
Join us online and on social media! These are the campaigns and current events where your voice as an educator or classified employee can make a difference. Watch your email for our Action Alerts! Or subscribe here.
Campaigns
From quality education to healthcare and civil rights
Learn about CFT’s priority campaigns, from our continued push for high-quality education to climate justice and civil rights.
Committees
Member-driven committees examine educational issues
Serving on a union committee is a great way to share your expertise and further your profession. The standing committees of the CFT work on areas of interest to educators, ranging from special education to labor education. The committees meet several times a year, usually on Saturdays, and the CFT covers the cost of travel expenses.
Political Action
Build power in your workplace and your community
Through the union’s Committee on Political Education, the CFT provides a strong voice in shaping the political climate that, in turn, shapes education in California and the nation. The CFT interviews candidates to determine those most committed and capable of championing the interests of educators and classified employees locally and in the State Capitol. When the union finds true supporters of member interests, the union endorses them.
Legislative Advocacy
Everything you need to become a successful member lobbyist
The California Legislature may seem daunting, but armed with a simple understanding of the legislative process, you can become an effective lobbyist almost overnight.
Each year, the CFT sponsors several bills. Ideas for
legislation may come from a number of sources, but typically
members communicate their ideas through CFT governance
meetings and resolutions passed by Convention and State Council.
Once the CFT adopts a sponsored bill program, staff
lobbyists work to secure legislators who will author the bills,
and see the bills through the legislative process and
onto the governor’s desk.
Organizing
Build a stronger union and workplace community
Topnotch CFT organizers provide strategic support to local unions, which is essential to achieving success in our bargaining and issue campaigns. As part of the California Organizing Project, staff organizers help locals achieve their organizational goals by employing numerous techniques to reach union members — from traditional one-on-one outreach to digital tools such as texting.
Awards
The Federation recognizes local achievement in many forms, from outstanding individuall achievement to organizing and communications. Some awards accept nominations, so please consider nominating the all-stars in your local union for these CFT awards.