California Federation of Teachers Legal Defense Fund

The CFT LDF finances the CFT’s legal matters. The organization also provides grants to local chapters of the CFT to fund legal matters. ² In 2018, the CFT LDF paid out $63,555 in grants, which was a decrease of almost 50% from the previous year. ³

The CFT LDF successfully defended the CFT when it was sued by a former employee in 2014 alleging mental health discrimination. ⁴

California Federation of Teachers (CFT)

The California Federation of Teachers is the parent organization of the California Federation of Teachers Legal Defense Fund. It provides funds to the Defense Fund to defend CFT from litigation. ⁵

The CFT represents 120,000 government-sector and private-sector educators and supports Democratic candidates and left-wing government policies, both through its public resolutions and its official political endorsements. ⁶ In 2020, the CFT supported Propositions 15 and 16, failed California ballot initiatives which, if passed, would have increased property taxes on businesses and permitted the use of affirmative action in hiring for state agencies. ^{7 8}

In 2024, CFT endorsed Kamala Harris for president and endorsed several left-of-center propositions which sought to advance left-wing policies related to increased public expenditures for public education, same-sex marriage, climate activism, so-called affordable housing, and an increased minimum wage. ^{9 10}

Jeff Freitas is the president of the CFT and has worked as president since March 2019 after working as CFT Secretary Treasurer for eight years. ¹¹

50% Law

Throughout the 1970s, the CFT LDF financed ongoing legal disputes between the California Federation of Teachers’s United Professors of Marin, Local 1610 (UPM) and numerous community colleges. The UPM sued the California government for years to enforce the “50% Law,” which mandated that community colleges must direct 50% of their expenses toward teachers and instructors. The UPM ultimately won its lawsuit and gained back pay for its teachers as well as establishing a precedent for enforcement throughout the state. ¹²

Dolores Sanchez v. California Federation of Teachers

In 2014, California Federation of Teachers was sued for mental illness-based discrimination by Dolores Sanchez, a 23-year employee and the first non-white legislative representative in the union. Sanchez alleged that after she was assigned additional duties by male superiors and passed over for a promotion she deserved, she took a leave of absence due to depression and then was pressured by her bosses to quit the union. The CFT LDF financed the CFT’s defense and ultimately won the case. ⁴

Leadership

Luukia A. Smith is listed as the principal officer of the California Federation of Teachers Legal Defense Fund. ¹³ Smith is also the former secretary treasurer of the California Federation of Teachers. ¹⁴

For her work with CFT LDF in 2022, Smith received $105,621 from her work with organizations related to CFT LDF and another $115,135 from CFT LDF and other CFT affiliates. ¹³

Financials

In 2022, the California Federation of Teachers Legal Defense Fund (CFT LDF) reported $248,670 in revenue, $182,423 in expenses, and $2,735,752 in total assets. ¹³

In 2022, the CFT LDF awarded several grants for legal defense, including a $60,181 grant to the UC Aft Local 1474 Union and a $38,103 grant to the San Francisco City College Faculty Union. Also in 2022, the CFT LDF awarded $23,877 to the Cerritos College Faculty, $12,994 to the Oxnard Federation of Teachers and School Employees, $10,991 to the Carpinteria Association of United School Employees 2216 Union, $10,475 to the Lompoc Federation of Teachers, and $7,957 to Part Time Faculty United. ¹⁵