Alex Caputo-Pearl of UTLA made a lot of the 2025 contract alignment campaign. He linked it closely to Sean Fein’s call for a “general strike” in 2028.

He framed the fight as one in which the union movement needs to establish an independent presence but support Dems tactically. He framed the fight ahead of us as against “MAGA authoritarianism”.

The speakers made a full-throated pitch for caucuses and Jane McAlevey-style organizing. I’m pleased that the CACS call for coordinated action in 2025 is being made energetically. 

After about an hour and forty five minutes Caputo-Pearl said they’d take a few questions and “get you out of here on time.” The first questioner was a teacher from UTR who commented that the billionaire class should be the movement’s target, not just MAGA, and that working class MAGA voters should be appealed to. She pointed to Luigi’s popularity as evidence. Caputo-Pearl was quick to cut her off and then ask if any others had a question. I wavs one among three that raised their hands in the window to do so. I was never called on however. 

I planned to ask how the strategy they’re proposing, if it revolves entirely around demands made through bargaining, reconciles the fact that many districts are structurally underfunded and can’t meet big demands.

Aaron Hackett. Mount Diablo Education Association