Reminder Tmrw! Higher Education Labor United’s (HELU) Summit
Join your higher education colleagues around the nation at Higher Education Labor United’s (HELU) first Winter Summit, taking place virtually February 23-27.
Some featured speakers are: contingent faculty activists and authors Joe Berry (of CCSF) and Helena Worthen, activist and author Naomi Klein, union organizer and author Jane McAlevey, Chicago Teachers Union Vice-President Stacy Davis Gates, Jobs With Justice executive director Erica Smiley, and more.
Read more about HELU and register for the summit here: https://higheredlaborunited.org/
Contact Holly Stevens (your AFT 2121 HELU rep) with questions at hollyestevens@gmail.com.
Resources for teaching Black History month
Resources from AFT and community partners for how to start—and continue—having these important conversations. Black History Month is a special time for schools, and it’s also an important opportunity for us to acknowledge the achievements and challenges of Black Americans beyond the classroom. From how to combat racism in healthcare to stories from Black public employees, you’ll find a breadth of resources below. Read more from AFT National…
CFT-sponsored bill to tax extreme wealth in California
This week Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose) re-introduced his bill, now titled AB 2289, that seeks to impose a tax on the extreme wealth of the richest Californians. The bill would impact approximately 17,000 multi-millionaires and billionaires in California, which is .07% of the total taxpayers in our state, and would raise more than $22 billion annually in revenue. CFT is a proud sponsor of this bill, and we will be working closely with Assemblymember Lee as it makes its way through the Legislature.
The timing of this bill is no accident. During the COVID-19 pandemic, billionaires’ collective wealth has increased 62%, and they are now $1.8 trillion richer than before the pandemic began. This hoarding of personal wealth while so many working Americans continue to struggle has not gone unnoticed.
“California billionaires have increased their wealth astronomically since the beginning of the pandemic, while regular working families have struggled to pay their bills,” CFT President Jeff Freitas said in a statement that was picked up by the LA Times. “It’s time we took care of each other, and not just watch billionaires fly into space.”
In order to generate long-term, stable revenue for California’s public schools, we need bold, progessive solutions like a tax on extreme wealth. Relying on one-time surpluses will not be enough for the kind of investment that California’s students and our communities deserve.
In the coming weeks, CFT will be sharing opportunities to get involved and let your elected officials know that you support AB 2289.
Thurs 2/24 1pm CCSF Revenue Unity Coalition Town Hall
Zoom link
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