Contact team members will mobilize networks
Volume 12, Issue 6 - March 2008
By Len Feldman
More than 200 CTA members and staff received intensive training in February as part of the CTA 2008 Contact Team Training Institute in Los Angeles.
Participants honed their organizing skills to help them mobilize members and the education community to take action against education cuts. As team leaders, they will be in charge of mobilizing members to communicate with state and federal lawmakers and other elected officials on vital issues.
During the workshops and general sessions, participants heard from CTA leaders who made it clear how much is riding on budget deliberations in the state Capitol. Schools are facing proposed cuts of $4.8 billion, the equivalent of reducing school funding by an estimated $24,000 per classroom.
“Our grassroots mobilization aims to help us protect school funding, win affordable health care for everyone, and secure each and every employee a secure retirement,” said CTA President David Sanchez in his remarks.
CTA Vice President Dean Vogel urged CTA members to use existing structures in their local chapters to generate contacts with legislators on key educational issues.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) warned participants about the scope of the state’s budget shortfall — some $16 billion in red ink — and the unwillingness of some lawmakers to consider revenue enhancements to protect schools and other vital interests.
In closing, CTA Secretary-Treasurer Dan Vaughn reminded participants that they had homework assignments: to mobilize their members “to communicate effectively with the governor and lawmakers about the devastating effects of proposed additional cuts on students and schools in their district.” He suggested that they be especially persuasive in securing public officials’ agreement to support CTA and the Education Coalition in the battle to protect public education.
