Newsroom
Historic Victory! US Senate passes the Social Security Fairness Act
Late this evening the Social Security Fairness Act was passed by an overwhelming majority in a historic vote in the U.S. Senate. The bill, which now goes to President Biden’s desk for his signature, would repeal the WEP/GPO penalties that unfairly take hard-earned Social Security benefits from CFT members who also participate in CalSTRS.
Take Action! Time for the U.S. Senate to repeal the WEP/GPO
Send a letter and make two calls today
Update: On Friday, December 20 the US Senate voted to pass the Social Security Fairness Act, sending it to President Biden’s desk for signature.
On Tuesday, November 12 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 327-75. Thanks to the nearly 2,500 CFT members who sent a letter to their congressional reps in less than 24 hours urging their YES vote. Your work made a critical difference!
Five critical bills on the Governor’s desk
Please urge Governor Newsom to sign them
***September 30, 2024 Update – Governor Newsom has signed AB 2245 and vetoed AB 2088, AB 2277, AB 2586, and SB 1182**
Five critical pieces of legislation are on the Governor’s desk. Please take a moment to sign the letters below, urging him to sign these important bills.
CFT and BFT Respond to BUSD Superintendent’s Testimony Before Congressional Committee
BERKELEY, CA – CFT President Jeff Freitas and Berkeley Federation of Teachers President Matt Meyer released the following statement following the testimony of Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel before a hearing of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce earlier today in Washington, D.C. The hearing was called to discuss antisemitism in our schools:
Celebrate Women’s History Month
Learn about the history of women in the labor movement and more
Women’s history month is an opportunity to look back at the contributions of women throughout American history. This month we will be posting content on our social media pages that centers women in the labor movement.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Threads to follow along!
Check back here throughout the month for updates and refreshed materials to share in the classroom and beyond.
Governor’s Proposed State Budget for 2024-25
Research Brief
Governor’s initial proposal for 2024-25 budget addresses large deficit without significant cuts or increases to public education funding
On January 10, Governor Newsom presented his initial budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. With tax receipts down this year and the late tax deadline last year, the Department of Finance is estimating a $37.9 billion budget deficit in the year ahead. Despite the shortfall, Governor Newsom did not propose significant cuts to education, instead essentially funding K-14 education at a similar level to the current year.
Black History Month 2024
Every February, we honor the contributions, recognize the adversities, and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of African American people in the United States. This years national theme is: African Americans and the Arts.
Right now in the United States, we see extremists banning books and censoring curriculum. Many of these attempts are directed at African American studies and Black history.
Legislative Update: Newsom’s Proposed State Budget ‘24-25
Initial Overview
January 11, 2024
Governor Newsom presented his initial 2024-25 budget proposal yesterday, with less dire projections than had been anticipated. The $291 billion budget proposal is about 6% smaller than the total 2023-24 budget, and about 8% smaller than the General Fund spending approved in the 2023-24 budget act.
The budget deficit as calculated by the Department of Finance (DOF) is estimated at $37.9 billion for the coming fiscal year; this is about $30 billion lower than the Legislative Analyst projected last month.
President Freitas is focused on building power for classified members
Jeff Freitas, President of the CFT, emphasized in his address to the attendees of the annual Council of Classified Employees Conference that the organization isn’t a teacher’s union, but a union of teachers and classified professionals.
“We have made sure that we represent everybody in the field of education in the classroom, as well as outside of the classroom,” he said.
State budget for 2023-24
Protects public education with ongoing funding; staffing crisis requires more support
State budget for 2023-24 protects public education with ongoing funding; staffing crisis requires more support:
Governor Newsom and the state Legislature came to an agreement in late June on a budget for 2023-24 that includes $225 billion in general fund expenditures while addressing a $31.7 billion deficit.
The Proposition 98 funding minimum guarantee is $108.3 billion in 2023-24, which is less than what last year’s enacted budget assumed, but slightly higher than the revised guarantee for 2022-23.