CFT Annual Convention

AFT national president Randi Weingarten addressing delegates to the CFT Convention.  When the Convention hotel ballroom briefly lost electricity, Weingarten abandoned the podium microphone for the convention floor, where she talked to the crowd "with my cafeteria voice." Fred Glass photos
 

Sacramento, March 22-24 — More than 500 delegates and guests attended the sixty seventh annual California Federation of Teachers Convention, the highest decision-making body of the statewide organization, March 20-22 in the state capital.  Held just a week after statewide protests against education budget cuts, the Convention conversation was dominated by the state budget situation, the upcoming May 19 statewide Special Election, and what to do about them.  The Convention also featured CFT officer elections, dozens of workshops on union and education topics, and an appearance by national AFT president Randi Weingarten, among other distinguished speakers.

After lengthy debate, the delegates voted overwhelmingly to oppose all propositions on the May ballot except Prop 1B.  CFT president Marty Hittelman summarized the members’ feelings when he said, “We do not believe that these propositions are beneficial to the welfare of the people of California and, in particular, to the students of California.”  Click here for CFT views on the Special Election ballot propositions.

The delegates also discussed and adopted positions on many other topics important to educators. Among them:
 

CFT now officially opposes the governor's budget proposal for categorical program flexibility, which would allow school district administrators to shift money targeted for important programs elsewhere.  

The organization makes support for quality preschool and investing in early childhood workers a major priority.  And

CFT will devote resources to educating the public about the negative aspects of standardized testing.

Final resolutions may be found by clicking here.

AFT national president Randi Weingarten addressed the delegates about Barack Obama’s views on education.  She focused her remarks on a speech Obama recently delivered in Washington, D.C., and which had drawn overheated media coverage about purported differences in educational philosophy between the teacher unions and Obama.  Weingarten ran through the many points of agreement between the AFT and the country’s president, most of which had been part of Obama’s speech, but ignored by the press.  Instead, she said, coverage had zeroed in on his brief lines about charter schools and “performance-based pay.”  She told the delegates that the following day she had had conversations with “the highest levels of the White House,” and received reassurance that the Obama administration continued to largely share AFT’s values.

Weingarten pointed out that Obama’s views on charter schools and merit pay were nothing new, and were consistent with what he had said during his campaign.  She reminded listeners that this was one of the reasons AFT initially supported Hilary Clinton.  But the AFT president reiterated that on most issues, the AFT is pleased to find Obama’s administration in synch with our positions.

Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi also spoke to the Convention, as did Burmese democracy activist Min Zin, and Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the Law School at UC Irvine.  Chemerinsky was introduced by CFT field rep Peter Nguyen, who had studied under Chemerinsky.  The Dean shared his perspective that the United States has been in the process of “deconstitutionalization” over the past few decades.  He pointed to conservative courts undermining basic American rights in several areas, including the right to an education, to equal educational opportunity, and to freedom of speech for teachers and students.  He urged the delegates to pressure the Obama administration to fill vacancies in federal courts with judges who will be “courageous” in their commitment to our rights.
 

In another convention action highlight, the delegates filled out postcards to Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, calling on them to support the Employee Free Choice Act.  Nearly 400 cards were collected.
 

CFT president Marty Hittelman delivered his State of the Union address on Saturday morning.  In his wide ranging remarks, the CFT president went over the accomplishments and travails of the past year, analyzed the challenges facing public education in California, and drew upon his three decades of teaching community college math to explain the daunting financial numbers at stake in the upcoming special election.  

Many awards were bestowed on members.  One highlight was the prestigious Ben Rust Award, the highest honor of the union, which was given this year to former CFT president Mary Bergan.  Her remarks dwelt on the period leading up to passage of SB 160, the Educational Employment Relations Act (1975), when she served as the CFT’s Legislative Director. 

Another awards moment was the annual Communications Awards, for the best local publications and communications.

The delegates also voted for a slate of officers to guide the statewide union for the next two years.   CFT President Marty Hittelman, Secretary Treasurer Dennis Smith, and Senior Vice President Laura Rico were reelected by acclamation.  The twenty four vice president positions were contested by twenty six candidates.  Reelected vice presidents were Velma J. Butler, Mary Alice Callahan, Kimberly Claytor, Beverly Cope, Melinda Dart, Miki Goral, Marc Houle, Dennis Kelly, Jim Mahler, Elaine Merriweather, Dean Murakami, Linda Olsen, Josh Pechthalt, Zwi Reznik, Francisco Rodriguez, Sam Russo, and Luukia Smith.  Newly elected vice presidents include Cathy Campbell, Betty Forrester, Gus Goldstein, Rosa Maria Garcia, Kent Wong, and David Yancey.

Left:  in a pre-Convention interview, CFT president Marty Hittelman tells a news reporter that CFT is working for fair tax policies to increase state revenues and properly fund public education. Right: Gary Ravani, newly elected president of the Early Childhood/K-12 Council, with his predecessor, Sue Westbrook, who is stepping down.

Picture added by webmaster:

John Garamendi and Professor Carlos von Son after Garamendi's speech