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CFT resolutions help shape AFT policy at Chicago convention |
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2008 AFT Convention
Randi Weingarten, President of the United Federation of Teachers in New York, was elected national AFT president at the AFT convention July 10-14.
CFT helps to create national policies at the AFT Convention in Chicago
Amid thunderstorms and muggy weather in Chicago, almost 4000 members of the American Federation of Teachers met in convention and elected Randi Weingarten to serve as President, Antonie Cortese Secretary-Treasurer, and Lorretta Johnson as Executive Vice President. This marks the first time three women have served as the top officers of a national union. The election for these three positions were not contested; outgoing President Ed McElroy and Secretary-Treasurer Nat LeCour retired.
The convention theme was "Greater than One," emphasizing the importance of solidarity and organizing for the success of public education. It was held July 10 – 14, and included a strong delegation from California. Laura Rico of the ABC Federation of Teachers in southern California was re-elected as one of the 39 Vice-Presidents of the AFT, and Dennis Kelly of United Educators of San Francisco was elected as another Vice-President.
Convention delegates voted overwhelmingly to endorse Barack Obama as AFT’s candidate for President of the United States. The convention heard from Obama via a live video feed, and also Hillary Clinton in person, who added her personal wish that AFT members work on Obama’s campaign.
The convention took a strong position against "No Child Left Behind," calling for repeal and its replacement with a law that represents the spirit of the ESEA in serving the needs of the most vulnerable children in our society. Incoming President Weingarten said, "NCLB slams the schoolhouse door on what makes up modern civilization and replaces it with multiple choice questions." (Click here for more on Weingarten and her acceptance speech.)
The delegates passed a number of resolutions on a wide variety of topics including several from California, some of which were either amended or included in other resolutions. They also sent a number of California resolutions that were not acted on to the AFT Executive Council for further consideration. The only resolution from California that was actually defeated was one from our Glendale College local calling for a 1/8 category for per capitas.
California resolutions that were approved, or approved as combined or amended resolutions, were:
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Endorsement of HR 676 (Universal Single Payer Health Care) (CFT)
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Support of a national Cesar Chavez Holiday (Local 771 Oakland)
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Support a national K-12 Labor Plan and Conference (CFT)
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Protest Repression of Puerto Rican Teachers (CFT)
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Against the Current U.S. Policy of Permanent and “Preemptive” War (CFT)
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Opposing U.S. Expansion of the War into Iran (CFT)
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Urge Schools to act as sanctuaries from efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport students and their families (Local 771 Oakland), and
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Support of California’s and a national DREAM Act to allow students without papers access to scholarships (Local 771 Oakland).
CFT’s resolution calling for joining U.S. Labor Against the War, and similar resolutions, were amended in committee to be less directive and were not added by delegate action. The leadership of AFT did agree to meet with representatives of USLAW in order to find ways to work together.
The actual wording of the various resolutions should be available soon at www.aft.org
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