California Federation of Teachers
State Convention
Marriott Oakland City Center
April 11-13, 2008

Coast Federation of Classified Employees
DELEGATES REPORT

Connie Marten (Ranking Delegate)
Vice President, Coast Federation of Classified Employees
Golden West College

David “Marty” Schindler (Delegate)
Orange Coast College

Diana Ramon (Delegate)
Coastline Community College

Neal Kelsey, Executive Director
Coast Federation of Classified Employees

The central theme of the 2008 CFT State Convention was the State of California budget crisis. In his State of the Union Address to the Convention delegates, Marty Hittelman indicated that the K-12 schools and community colleges simply cannot absorb the Governor’s proposed ten percent (10%) across-the-board budget cuts and suspension of Proposition 98 funding requirements. The K-12 schools are already experiencing massive layoffs and the prospects for 2008-2009 do not look any better. Some community colleges are also experiencing layoffs, particularly among the part-time instructors and classified staff. Mr. Hittelman noted that California already ranks 48th in the nation in terms of per student funding. The following resolutions relating to the State of California budget crises were passed by the CFT State Convention delegates:

• CFT Resolution 2: Oppose Suspension of Proposition 98
• CFT Resolution 3: Adequately Fund California Schools
• CFT Resolution 33: Funding Schools and Public Needs: Fight Back with Vision, Values and Progressive Taxation

To see all of the CFT Resolutions Adopted at the CFT State Convention,
CLICK HERE

With the recent national increase in gun violence, the CFT passed a couple of resolutions addressing violence in our schools. Both of the resolutions seek to improve communication of this problem and seek legislative action, both at the state and federal levels.

• CFT Resolution 5: Prevent Gun Violence at School
• CFT Resolution 7: Require Safer Door Locks for School Emergencies

To see all of the CFT Resolutions Adopted at the CFT State Convention,
CLICK HERE

There were several resolutions that dealt with a variety of issues in pre-school, K-12 schools, and community colleges. The delegates overwhelming supported continued funding for Career Technical Education, Adult Education, and improved assessment tools in K-12 schools. The relevant resolutions are listed below.

• CFT Resolution 8: Support Career Technical Education
• CFT Resolution 9: Support Early Childhood Education
• CFT Resolution 10: Improve Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program
• CFT Resolution 11: Establish English Language Learner Committee
• CFT Resolution 30: Support Noncredit Community College Adult Education

To see all of the CFT Resolutions Adopted at the CFT State Convention,
CLICK HERE

Two resolutions dealt with amending the CFT Constitution. CFT Constitutional Amendment 1: Finance increases the CFT monthly per capita tax from $34.52 to $36.17, effective September 1, 2008. CFT Constitutional Amendment 2: Officers sets July 1 as the date in which newly elected CFT officers (i.e., President and Secretary/Treasurer) officially assume their office. This amendment was made in order to create a less ambiguous transition when new officers are elected to these positions.

• CFT Constitutional Amendment 1: Finance
• CFT Constitutional Amendment 2: Officers

To see all of the CFT Resolutions Adopted at the CFT State Convention,
CLICK HERE

Two resolutions specifically apply to classified schools employees. CFT Resolution 16: Support Death Benefit Equity for Classified School Employees increases the death benefit for school members (i.e., classified employees) within CalSTRS from $2,000 to $6,163, which is the current death benefit received by teachers.

• CFT Resolution 14: Promote Classified and Faculty Unity
• CFT Resolution 16: Support Death Benefit Equity for Classified School Employees

To see all of the CFT Resolutions Adopted at the CFT State Convention,
CLICK HERE

CFT has been involved in promoting health care reform in the State of California and the nation. CFT Resolution 17: Support Single-Payer Health Care directs the CFT to forward a resolution to the AFT Convention in July 2008 supporting HR 676. HR 676 seeks to establish a single-payer health care system in the United States, which would eliminate deductibles and co-payments and reduce the overall cost of delivering health care in the United States by eliminating the overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

• CFT Resolution 17: Support Single-Payer Health Care

Other Resolutions

• CFT Resolution 18: Encourage Retiree Contact Information
• CFT Resolution 26: Support Creating a One-Eighth Dues Category for AFT Per Capita Taxes
• CFT Resolution 32: May 1st Resolution

To see all of the CFT Resolutions Adopted at the CFT State Convention,
CLICK HERE

National Politics

• CFT Resolution 21: End Middle East Wars and Occupation, war profiteering and Erosion of Human Rights
• CFT Resolution 22: Endorse the National Antiwar Conference to Stop the War in Iraq and Bring the Troops Home Now

To see all of the CFT Resolutions Adopted at the CFT State Convention,
CLICK HERE

Bills of Interest in the U.S. Congress

• Social Security Fairness (H.R. 82)
• National Health Insurance Act (H.R. 676)

Bills in the State of California Legislature Affecting Classified School Employees

Legend:
AB – Assembly Bill
ADA – American Diabetes Association
BAP – Bay Area Partnership
CSEA – California School Employees Association
LA CDE – Los Angeles County Department of Education
FACCC – Faculty Association of California Community Colleges
PICO – Pacific Institute of Community Organizations
PSD – Palmdale School District

The delegates and representative from the Coast Federation of Classified Employees also attended the following workshops:

• All Guns Left Behind
• Union Power: Effective Contract
• Education Finance
• Political Action Primer

Respectfully submitted,

Neal Kelsey
Executive Director
Coast Federation of Classified Employees
AFT Local 4794

Report from Diana Ramon (Delegate)

Workshop at 1:30 -- “Latino Political Power in California”

Ken Burt has compiled extraordinary documentation going back 50 years on the political struggle of latinos/mexicanos in our country. The memorabilia and documents presented via slides was quite admirable.

I noted that the political/community organizations I consider conservative today were at the forefront and considered “rabblerousers” 50 years ago.

Convention Committee at 3:00 -- “Socio-Political”

Ten Resolutions were before the committee for discussion and prioritization.  Although discussion was “limited” because of time constraints it was lively, educational and powerful.

List of Resolutions:

• Denounce the denial of higher education to Baha’is in Iran
• Support U.S. Labor Against the War
• End Middle East Wars and occupation, war profiteering and erosion of human and civil rights
• Endorse the national antiwar conference to stop the  war in Iraq and bring the troops home now
• Protest repression against Puerto Rican teachers
• Support Sister Nezu and other Japanese teachers
• Oppose human trafficking and forced labor
• Support creating a one-eighth dues category for AFT per capita taxes
• Support immigrants
• Stop U.S. support of governments that use child soldiers

Division Councils at 7 pm — Council of Classified Employees

Since this was my first convention there was a large learning curve to overcome. On hindsight I would have loved to “toot Coastline Community College’s horn” by reporting our Classified Council’s accomplishments since we’ve had many this year. I enjoyed hearing other council’s reports, battles (layoffs) and accomplishments, meeting the AFT’s lobbyists,

Saturday, April 12

General Session II and III  — Resolutions Committee Report

This was a great learning experience seeing firsthand the fruit of our efforts in the committee meeting. It was obvious to me at this meeting that Dean Murakami is excellent at what he does within the committee and at the floor debate.

Workshop at 4 pm — Social Justice in the Classroom

One of the most delightful workshops I’ve attended. There is quite a lot of material to be implemented in the lower grades to promote social justice, the power of the people, etc.  We read one of the plays out loud in this workshop.

Diana Ramon
CFT State Convention Delegate
Coast Federation of Classified Employees

Coast Federation of Classified Employees
AFT Local 4794
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