CFA Holds Legislative Reception

Dozens of CFA members traveled to Sacramento Monday to watch the swearing-in of the new class of state legislators.

That same morning, leaders from CFA Northridge looked on as newly elected State Senator Caroline Menjivar signed her first bill, Senate Bill 11.

The proposed bill will address the provision of quality and culturally informed mental health services for our students and prohibit contracting out mental health services to for-profit organizations like TimelyMD, a Texas-based provider of “virtual counseling.”  

CFA hosted a reception for activists and elected officials after the swearing-in, and was the only single union on Monday to do so [the California Labor Federation hosted a reception on behalf of its member unions]. Thirty-five CFA activists attended, as did Academic Senate of the CSU (ASCSU) chair Beth Steffel and ASCSU legislative specialists Christine Isakson and Jerry Schutte, CSUEU Executive Director Jim Philliou, CSUEU legislation chair Vickie McLeod and member leader Sarah Shraeder. The reception was visited by over 40 elected officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta and his partner Assemblymember Mia Bonta.  

CFA members also marched in solidary with UAW 2865 from the west steps of the Capitol back to the University of California office of the President (UCOP), Sacramento office, which is down the street from the CFA office. The strike is entering its third week with many issues yet to be bargained. The academic workers shut down the Sacramento light rail, disrupted some fancy lunches, and caused trouble for the UC offices.