CCA-CCC Unification Statement

The weekend of February 20-22, 2009, exploratory discussions began on unifying the Community College Association (CCA) of the California Teachers Association (CTA) and the Community College Council (CCC) of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT).

The parties are deeply concerned about preserving access and maintaining and improving the high quality of education provided in California’s community colleges, and will be seeking opportunities to work together in close partnership on issues of mutual interest as the talks proceed.  A set of general principles that will guide the unification discussions was agreed upon.  

The intention of the participants in the conversations is to build upon the strengths of the unions involved and to fully engage local leaders and members of both statewide organizations in discussion of the many issues involved. Additional meetings have been scheduled.  

In addition to the officers of CCA and CCC, top elected leaders and key staff of CTA and CFT participated as well as representatives of the two organizations’ respective national affiliates, the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).