Sept-Oct 2021
Volume 75, Issue 1
ALL-UNION NEWS
Back-to-School Tour puts staff shortage in stark perspective
By Jeffery M. Freitas, CFT President
We anticipated questions about safety, but everywhere we went we heard another refrain: There aren’t enough staff — teachers, librarians, custodians, bus drivers, faculty, counselors, and substitute teachers — to serve the needs of students and school communities.
Four CFT bills land on governor’s desk — send letters now
The CFT sent four bills to the governor’s desk during this legislative session. Governor Newsom has until October 10 to sign the bills — please urge the governor to sign the CFT bills!
Labor’s all-out effort helps defeat Newsom recall
The CFT and its allies kicked into high gear and voters responded, sending the attempted recall to resounding defeat with a 63% “No” vote — a nearly two-to-one margin. CFT members were on the front lines!
PREK-12 SCHOOLS
Answers to common questions about return to in-person
Now that California schools have returned to in-person classes, teachers and staff on campuses up and down the state are learning to navigate a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Find answers to our most common questions.
- NEW PROGRAM: What does a community school look like?
CLASSIFIED
Classified feel the love during Back-to-School Tour
Dozens of classified employees and paraeducators welcomed the opportunity to meet one-on-one with CFT leaders during the tour and said the personal outreach provided welcome support and encouragement for their safe return to campus.
- TAKE ACTION! Urge the governor to sign AB 438 to make the classified layoff calendar equitable with certificated.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
What’s on everyone’s mind? The return to in-person
Most faculty members and students have been teaching and learning online for more than 18 months due to COVID-19. Many planned to go back to their campus this fall, but then the delta variant emerged. So what are the community colleges doing now?
- TAKE ACTION! Urge the governor to sign AB 375 and increase the workload cap for part-time faculty to 85%.
UNIVERSITY
Back to the classroom, but no contract
UC-AFT’s negotiating team has met with the university team on 50 occasions, yet the four most fundamental issues are still outstanding — high turnover rates, lack of performance reviews, widespread uncompensated labor, and compensation itself. Bargaining has taken on additional importance with the nine-campus system resuming in-person instruction.
- TAKE ACTION! Urge the governor to sign AB 1550 and protect bargaining rights at UC!
RETIRED
You can help start an AFT retiree chapter!
Building a retiree chapter takes time, but it always starts with a handful of dedicated people. Kate Disney envisions an outward-facing retiree chapter with a political stance, and has set her sights on electing more faculty-friendly college governing board members.
- WHEN YOU RETIRE: Find our new step-by-step guide to building a retiree chapter.
YOUR UNION IN ACTION
CFT surpasses $2 million in scholarships awarded
With great pride, the CFT announces the union has now awarded more than $2 million to children of members through our Raoul Teilhet Scholarship program. Support for college tuition has never been more important. Children or dependents of CFT members in good standing are eligible for $3000 or $1000 scholarships. High school seniors may apply now; the deadline is December 15.
Teaching resources about the Armenian Genocide
This spring the Civil, Human, and Women’s Rights Committee brought a resolution before the CFT Convention calling for the state federation to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide and commit to sharing resources for teaching about it in the classroom.
Community college faculty salary studies released
Find our annual salary comparisons for full-time and part-time faculty.
- Governor allows retired teachers and staff to return to work within 180 days of retirement to relieve staffing shortage.
- Supplemental sick leave expired September 30, but exclusion pay provisions still apply under the Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard.
- See our Back-to-School tour in pictures with visits to more than 20 local unions.
- Two CFT-supported candidates elected to the CalPERS Board.
- Classified professionals head to Las Vegas next weekend for the annual Classified Conference with a (COVID-safe) line-up plenary sessions, workshops, and social events.