All out for May Day!
On Thursday May 1, thousands will gather at rallies and events across the country to celebrate May Day, recognized around the world as International Workers Day, traditionally a day of marches and actions for labor solidarity in all corners of the globe.
This year we collectively rise up against the Trump administration's war on working people, as it attempts to defund our schools, privatize public services, attack unions, and target immigrant families with fear and violence.
Rallies are planned in over 80 locations throughout the state, including at all UC campuses, where those assembled will support striking AFSCME 3299 and UPTE-CWA 9119 workers.
CFT local unions across the state are turning out for the rallies and actions. Please follow up with your local union or find an event near you on the May Day Strong website. Want to host your own event? Check out our May Day page on the CFT website, which also includes links to a video and more history on May Day.
Urge Governor Newsom and our elected leaders to stop massive cuts that could gut the University of California system
Our University of California system is at a crossroads. Governor Newsom has proposed an almost 8% cut to state funding to UC in the coming school year and a delay in the 5% increase in state funding he has promised to our students through an agreement known as the multi-year compact.
Massive cuts in funding in the coming year could devastate UC’s ability to offer a quality education to our students, and would put a huge pressure on our UC system to raise tuition. It also comes as the Trump administration is attacking higher education, eliminating research funding, and attacking our students and staff.
Our students deserve better.
Please sign this letter today, urging Governor Newsom and our elected leaders in Sacramento to stand with our students and with our flagship UC system by stopping the proposed cuts. Instead, let’s invest in our students and the UC and stand together against the attacks coming from the Trump administration.
AFT and coalition win nationwide injunction on Trump admin attacks on schools
The AFT and a coalition of nationwide associations of educators won a preliminary injunction to temporarily stop the Trump administration’s attempt to threaten education institutions, including universities and school districts, with prosecution or loss of vital federal funding, if they teach students important history, sociology, and other lessons that reference race and racism or if they provide support to students and foster healthy school communities through diversity, equity, and inclusion programming.
The lawsuit was filed after the Department of Education sent the “Dear Colleague Letter” in February, which created a new policy that threatens to withhold federal funding for any education institutions that do not comply with its unprecedented weaponization and undermining of civil rights laws. Details here on the victory in court.
Workplace Readiness Week starts Monday April 28 in California high schools
CFT-sponsored AB 800 mandates that the first week in May is now “Workplace Readiness Week” for 11th and 12th graders in California public schools. To help teachers in the classroom recognize this important week, the CFT Labor and Climate Justice Education Committee has put together a five-day curriculum (an hour a day) designed for delivery in U.S. History, Government, and Economics classes. The curriculum was created by Nicolle Fefferman, a veteran LAUSD high school social studies teacher, in collaboration with the Young Workers Education Project and UCLA Labor Center.
More materials and information can be found on the UCLA Labor Center Young Worker Initiative website, and in this recent webinar hosted by SPI Tony Thurmond.
Upcoming CFT webinars
April 30 webinar: K-12 Educators Defending Immigrant Communities – On Wednesday, April 30 at 4:00 p.m. UTLA educators will share the components of their union-wide efforts to support the immigrant community in Los Angeles in this CFT webinar. Presenters will share the work their union has done with their members, the district, and school board and with immigrant rights community organizations and other labor partners. They will also share how their contract bargaining is shaped by this work. RSVP here.
May 15 webinar: Unemployment insurance workshop for contingent faculty – On Thursday, May 15 at 4:30 p.m. CFT will host a webinar for part-time faculty on navigating unemployment. The workshop will guide faculty through the online unemployment filing process, for both new and reopened claims. How to deal with phone interviews, denials, and appeals will also be covered. Register here.
AFT Student Debt Clinics: April 30, May 15 & 27 – The AFT will offer student debt clinics for all members on April 30, May 15, and May 17 at 4:00 p.m. PST. New rules have made Public Service Loan Forgiveness more accessible to more public service workers, but the path to reaching forgiveness can be complex and overwhelming. This session will provide a grounding in how income-driven repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness work, demonstrate how to apply for them, and identify resources that will make applying for these programs and managing your student loans a breeze. Register here.
