CFT | A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals

‘Put Working People First’: Unions Respond to Government Shutdown | AFL-CIO AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler issued the following statement after the federal government’s funding expired at midnight and a shutdown began:

"Fix healthcare, open the government & make workers—not chest pounding—the focus. We call on those in power: Negotiate a solution—one that protects healthcare, lowers everyday costs, reopens the government and helps, rather than hurts, the American people." - @rweingarten.bsky.social #TrumpShutdown

BFT members filled the school board chambers to remind the board and district to "Support Berkeley Educators". BFT members have been working with an expired contract...We CAN'T WAIT. Fair contract now! @cftunion.bsky.social @californialabor.bsky.social

In Memory of Union Sister Andrea Zinder UFCW Local 135 joins the entire labor movement in mourning the loss of our union sister, Andrea Zinder, President of UFCW Local 324, who passed away unexpectedly on September 27, 2025. Andrea was a…

CFT joins the entire labor movement in mourning the loss of our union sister, Andrea Zinder, President of UFCW Local 324. May she rest in peace.

ufcw135.com/andrea-zinder/

❤️

Join us tonight!

Broad Coalition of Faculty, Staff, Students, and Unions Unite to Defend University of California System From Trump-Vance Administration Assault - Democracy Forward

Full details on lawsuit here: democracyforward.org/updates/titl...

21 groups representing more than 100,000 UC employees sued Trump today for his outrageous and illegal demands of UCLA, including a $1.2 billion fine. "UC-AFT remains resolute that the University of California should concede nothing to these demands." – UC-AFT Pres. Katie Rodger. @ucaft.bsky.social

Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot at event in Utah, source says | CNN Politics Trump ally Charlie Kirk was shot at an event in Utah, a source familiar with the matter says.

Let's be clear: violence is never okay. Political violence is never okay. Gun violence ruins lives. My prayers are with Charlie Kirk, his family and everyone who was present at this horrific event.
www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/p...

AFT Survey Shows Teachers Are Spending Hundreds Out of Pocket on Food for Kids, Classroom Supplies WASHINGTON—The AFT today released a new national survey that shows a substantial number of educators anticipate needing to buy food for hungry students this year, as most continue to spend more than $...

🚨In a new survey of 700 AFT members, 49.5% say they anticipate needing to purchase food for their students this year—and even before the cuts to SNAP in Trump's #BigUglyBill take effect in 2028.

Read more from the survey & share⬇️

CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals released the following statement today from President Jeff Freitas in response to the Supreme Court ruling in favor of Trump’s cruel and inhumane racial profiling-based detentions and arrests in Los Angeles:

Happy Labor Day!
Unions matter because #WorkersDeserve:
✊Fair pay
✊Safe working conditions
✊Affordable healthcare
✊A dignified & secure retirement
✊Fully funded public schools
✊The right to join strong unions
✊A democracy where every voice is heard & every vote counts!

Such a great day! ✊

✊

Such an amazing day! We were proud to stand with all of you ✊

YouTube video by AFT Labor Day 2025 Interview with AFT President Randi Weingarten

Voters wanted lower costs, better healthcare, more professional opportunities, and a stronger voice on the job. Trump has betrayed those hardworking Americans, but unions will never give up on creating opportunity for everyone to thrive.
youtu.be/YC4LMHgPArc

Today, on Labor Day, the California Labor Movement’s presence was bigger than ever! From San Diego to San Francisco, workers took to the streets to be loud and proud! That’s because we have Faith, Fight and Solidarity! #FFS

This is a labor town. This is a unity town. This community knows how to fight.
This community understands that power concedes nothing without a demand. - @rweingarten.bsky.social #WorkersDeserve

Back-to-school joy is tempered by fear Back-to-school time means first-day jitters, new class schedules and reuniting with friends you’ve missed all summer—but this year, it also means fear among educators and families who live in immigran...

Back-to-school time means first-day jitters, new class schedules & reuniting with friends you’ve missed all summer—but this year, it also means fear among educators & families who live in immigrant communities.

@utlanow.bsky.social @cftunion.bsky.social @floridaea.bsky.social @ctulocal1.bsky.social

We are heartbroken and horrified by today’s mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School. Back-to-school should be a time of joy, not fear and sorrow.

Our hearts are with the educators, students and families impacted by this senseless gun violence. Enough.

California schools brace for fallout from U.S. Supreme Court decision on religious rights The ruling permitting opt-outs from instruction based on deeply held religious beliefs has caused confusion and trepidation among school administrators, who are hearing threats of litigation from both...

CFT President @jeff-f7.bsky.social: educators are not going to fold under pressure created by the Sup. Court decision.

“The role of the public school is to help students develop the critical thinking skills and knowledge necessary to engage in a pluralistic democracy."

edsource.org/2025/alterna...

A simple “Know Your Rights” poster on this teacher’s classroom wall ended up protecting a student’s family from ICE — stopping a parent from being deported. One small act of care changed the course of a child’s life.
#ProtectOurKids

U.S. investment in public education is at risk: Vouchers, state budget austerity, and federal attacks on the Department of Education threaten children’s futures Weak public K–12 education spending in the U.S. and the rising trend of Republican attacks on public schools threaten our children’s futures. The last decade has seen a flurry of high-quality studies ...

📉 Vouchers. Budget cuts. Federal attacks on the Department of Education.

All of these schemes have one thing in common: they strip resources from kids and weaken public schools.

Public education isn’t a luxury, it’s a promise. And we’re fighting to keep that promise alive.

More from @epi.org ⬇️

Trump administration moves to 'prevent benefits' for some under popular student loan forgiveness program The Trump administration says that its proposed changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness "may delay or prevent forgiveness for a subset of borrowers."

“The Trump administration is trying, through executive authority, to limit who can access this benefit based on a litmus test of who they like and who they don’t like.” - @rweingarten.bsky.social on Trump's changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (1/2)

The California Labor Movement mourns the passing of our brother and friend, Andrew Meredith. Andrew wasn’t just an incredible tradesman and labor leader, he was also a veteran and a committed husband and father. (1/2)

Picnics, parades and empowering workers This Labor Day, we’re focusing on what all working people deserve.

At marches, rallies, picnics and parades this #LaborDay, workers and union members will celebrate the power we have when we come together to demand dignity, affordability and opportunity. - @rweingarten.bsky.social #WorkersDeserve

www.aft.org/column/picni...

Statement from CFT President Jeff Freitas:

AFT and AFT-Maryland Respond to Court’s Rejection of Trump’s Unprecedented Assault on Public Education BALTIMORE—AFT President Randi Weingarten and AFT-Maryland President Kenya Campbell issued the following statements after the U.S.

“This is a huge win for students, families and educators and a sweeping indictment of Donald Trump’s draconian attacks on the essence of public education.” — @rweingarten.bsky.social on the federal court’s rejection of Trump’s attack on honest history and student supports.

YouTube video by AFT We must fight to protect Social Security

Did you miss our Social Security webinar from last night?

Check out the recording of our conversation with @rweingarten.bsky.social, @socialsecurityworks.org President @alaw202.bsky.social, AFGE Council 220 President Jessica Lapointe, and Social Security activist Eliseo Jiminez here.

Take action with AFT! · AFT on Mobilize Find events, petitions, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers and more with AFT.

Workers built this country, and workers deserve an economy, a government and a country for the people, not the billionaires. In the streets & on the shop floor, in union halls and the halls of Congress, this Labor Day we’re going to show the billionaires who we are and how we fight. #WorkersDeserve

A petition with a light yellow/beige background. The header reads 'University of California: Stand Up For Our Values' in large blue text. Below is a blue button saying 'Please sign here' and text requesting to forward the letter widely at https://tinyurl.com/ucstandup.

“We demand that the UC Office of the President immediately challenge the Trump administration attacks in court and collaborate with Governor Newsom and the California state legislature to supplement this shortfall.”

Sign the letter at sites.google.com/view/ucstand...