CFT - A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals

08/24/2026

Over 150 Classified Professionals attended our Back to School tour stop in Gilroy last week!

There is no class without classified and our classrooms could not run without the dedication and expertise of our paraprofessionals! 🫶📚

08/21/2026

Great back to school visit yesterday in Berkeley CA, when CFT officers got a chance to check in with members of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1028.

In addition to a great discussion on our state priorities, BFT welcomed new site leaders to their leadership meeting and strategized on how best to recruit new employees to sign up for the union!

08/20/2026

CFT's Back to School tour is underway and we've been all over the state the past couple of weeks!

Last week, the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers welcomed CFT President Jeff Freitas and CFT Executive VP Juan Ramirez into their classrooms. Members discussed their ongoing negotiations and how they plan to fight for a fair contract.

Members also learned about CFT's defending democracy work going into the November election and how to get involved. Thank you Pajaro!

If you are interested in learning more about CFT's work going into the November election, head to cftfightback.org!

08/20/2026

Back-to-school shopping should strengthen our communities—not reward a corporation that refuses to stand up for its own. Shop local. Support small businesses. Cross Target off your supply list when you can. https://www.shopsmart.aft.org/

08/18/2026

Start the school year with seven free resources and practical strategies to help you plan lessons, build classroom community and support every learner. Discover ready-to-use activities, time-saving AI tools and professional development designed for K-12 educators.

08/14/2026

The Big Ugly Bill is taking money out of working Americans’ pockets at a time when it’s already hard to keep up.

Millions of Americans are now seeing their monthly student loan bills spike—some by up to hundreds of dollars more a month. Share your story about how this harmful piece of legislation has affected you and your family ⤵
https://protectborrowers.org/one-big-bill/?partner=aft

08/13/2026

When Jeff Freitas, the president of the CFT in California, was first starting his career as an educator in the mid-90s, he didn’t feel comfortable coming out as gay to everyone.

But even though gay marriage wasn’t legal and openly gay men couldn’t serve in the military, the AFT created a welcoming environment, and he got involved in his union.

Now, in 2026, attacks on transgender and q***r people are becoming more widespread, and labor rights are rapidly being eroded. In a new AFT Voices piece, Freitas writes that in order for us to fight for labor rights, we must also fight for transgender and q***r rights.

By Jeff Freitas

08/08/2026

Following the announcement that the Trump administration plans to cut the Head Start program, Jeff Freitas, President of CFT made the following statement:

"Instead of asking billionaires to pay their fair share, the Trump administration is cutting essential services for children living in poverty. They’re telling families that their children don’t need quality health or dental care. They’re saying more children can be packed into smaller spaces with fewer adults while their parents work for minimum wage.

They call these protections 'bureaucracy.' We call them what they are: essential services that children and families depend on.
"This is not about whether we have the money. We do. Elon Musk is now the world’s first trillionaire, while his companies continue to receive billions of dollars in federal contracts. Imagine what even a fraction of that wealth could do for our children.

We have a choice about what kind of country we want to be. We can keep giving tax breaks and special treatment to billionaires, or we can invest in our children and give every family a fair shot. I know where I stand."

While administration officials say the changes will save money by lifting onerous requirements, advocates fear the anti-poverty program will be gutted.