Union Leaders
President
Jeffery M.
Freitas was elected CFT President in March 2019
after serving as CFT Secretary Treasurer for eight
years. A credentialed secondary math
teacher, Freitas has advocated on behalf of members for
two decades as president of the Carpinteria Association of United
School Employees, AFT Local 2216, and as a field representative
and lobbyist for the CFT. In his role as CFT President, Freitas
also serves as a vice president of the California Labor
Federation and the AFT.
Secretary Treasurer
Luukia Smith
serves as CFT Secretary Treasurer. Prior to this position, Smith
was president of the CFT Council of Classified Employees,
representing paraprofessionals and classified employees in the
Federation. She also served as president of her local union,
the El Camino Classified Employees, AFT Local 6142, for 16
years, representing staff at El Camino College in
Torrance. Smith worked in the accounting
department at the college for 30 years.
Senior Vice President
L. Lacy Barnes, an instructor of psychology at Reedley College is the Senior Vice President of CFT. Barnes, who holds a doctorate, is former president of the State Center Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1533, representing full-and part-time faculty at Reedley and Fresno City Colleges in the Central Valley.
Vice Presidents
The 24 vice presidents typically hold leadership positions in their local unions, and together they represent the broad spectrum of teachers and support staff represented by the CFT.
AFT Vice Presidents
Delegates to the biennial AFT Convention elect officers of our national union. Two CFT leaders represent California as vice presidents on the AFT Executive Council.
President, United Teachers Los Angeles, AFT Local 1021
Alex Caputo-Pearl
CFT President
Jeff Freitas
Division Council Leaders
Experienced educators lead each of the CFT’s five division councils. Representatives from constituent local unions of each division elect their council leaders in biennial elections.