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Our work contributes to quality of education
By Paula A. Phillips, President, Council of Classified Employees
Every CFT member can play a role in the CFT’s campaign for quality public education, which will identify problems that are holding back our schools and colleges and set goals to move California forward.
A quality public education starts with adequate funding to maintain staffing levels and professional development. That’s a tall order in times of budget cuts, but with the passage of Prop. 30, fair funding will be within reach if Sacramento shows some political courage.
Union working to keep campuses safe and secure
CFT is focused on campus safety as it advances legislation and finalizes resolutions on gun control.
Retrofit door locks
Doors that lock from the inside have been mandatory on new school
construction since CFT-sponsored AB 211 became law in 2010, but
some districts have resisted retrofitting existing buildings
citing cost.
Unions find innovative solutions for staff development
Career development has been a convenient target of budget cuts, but locals unions have found creative approaches for investing in staff.
A sabbatical program the AFT Guild negotiated with the San Diego Community College District allows nine classified employees a year to take 16 weeks paid leave to study at an accredited college.
Nathan Talo used his leave to take a giant step toward his psychology degree. Talo began working at Mesa College as a part-time account clerk 15 years ago, and is now a senior account clerk.
Meet leaders of the CFT Council of Classified Employees
Paula Phillips is president of the Berkeley Council of Classified Employees. After earning a degree in human resource management and working in the private sector, she came to Berkeley Unified as an administrative assistant to the Personnel Commission. She saw the district grading internal job candidates harder than external applicants and didn’t think it was fair.
Classified who teach college classes preserve fair assignments and pay
The AFT College Staff Guild and the Los Angeles Community College District agreed in January that classified employees who accept adjunct teaching assignments do not need to reduce their classified hours if the assignment is outside regularly scheduled hours.
Congrats to Classified Employee of the Year Rena Pheng
The California Community Colleges Board of Governors recently named Long Beach City College custodian Rena Pheng a Classified Employee of the Year. The honor caught Pheng by surprise.
“I’m not crazy about interviews and all this attention,” she said. “I never imagined receiving this award, especially since I do what I do because I love Long Beach City College, our students and staff — not for recognition.”
CFT brings voice to 10th Annual Trinational Coalition in Mexico City
Peter Brown is representing CFT at the 10th Annual Trinational Coalition to Defend Public Education now underway in Mexico City. Brown teaches at Laney College in Oakland and is a member of the Peralta Federation of Teachers.
Pechthalt honored by UCLA Labor Center
CFT President Joshua Pechthalt was honored Thursday, May 23, 2013, by the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education, at the Center’s annual banquet, for his work to help pass Proposition 30 in November 2012.
Berkeley local unions fight for fair contract, cooking and gardening program
The faculty and classified AFT local unions in the Berkeley Unified School District rallied on May 8 before a district board meeting. With state funding to the district on the rise, educators say the district can provide more for its employees, especially since it is holding $7.9 million in its ending fund balance.
The workers are also trying to save the successful cooking and gardening program threatened by cuts to the federal program, Network for Healthy Californians.
Celebrate the role of classified staff during Classified School Employee Week!
May 19-25 is our week!
Classified staff keep California schools and colleges working. From making sure the buses are on time and running safely to helping college students obtain financial aid so they can stay in college, the work of classified members makes a difference every day.
Classified work in dozens of job roles ranging from clerical, maintenance and operations, food service, and computer services to classroom aides. Each classified worker helps the workplace run a little better and contributes to the quality of education for our students.
Educators at three charter schools choose AFT as their union
From a county jail to construction academy, charter workers are seeking union representation
Seeking a larger voice in their workplaces, career stability and the power to better serve their students, teachers and counselors at three charter schools recently voted AFT as their union, and will have the benefit of belonging to well-established and effective AFT local unions.
Adult educators build awareness, support to save schools
United street action and online communities making a difference
Adult education has been on the ropes, yet it continues to come back swinging to defend programs that are vital to many California communities.