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Workers across Florida come together to rally against union busting attacks by the Florida Legislature

Tyler Foerst
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“The right of employees, by and through a labor organization, to bargain collectively shall not be denied or abridged.”
Article 1, Section 6 of Florida’s Constitution

Gainesville, FL - As part of a statewide mass action this week, workers from the North Central FL Central Labor Council, Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 3170, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1579, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2779, Laborers International United North America (LIUNA) Local 517, Alachua County Education Association (ACEA), Levy County Education Association (LEA), Marion County Education Association (MEA), Marion County Educational Support Professionals (MESP), & United Teachers of Suwannee County joined together today in front of Representative Chuck Clemons’ (R-22) office to demand that he and the FL House of Representatives vote down HB 1445, the Public Sector Union Buster bill, and end these malicious attacks on workers.
 

This bill deprives public sector workers of the right to pay their dues via paycheck deduction, which most members use for convenience. It also requires that unions have at least 60% of their members pay dues or the entire unit will be decertified and the collective bargaining agreement effectively voided. Under this bill, to stay certified, unions will have to comply with a new convoluted process that will burden worker-representatives and cost workers, through their unions, more in paperwork. According to the Senate’s own analysis, this unnecessary hurdle will cost taxpayers nearly a million dollars a year just in extra paperwork and staff time.
 

The right to collectively bargain is enshrined in Article 1, Section 6 of Florida’s Constitution and in the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This bill is a direct attack on the constitutional rights of teachers, educators, support staff, bus drivers, custodians, linemen, water and wastewater operators, 911 dispatch operators, and every public sector worker.


This bill is monumentally unpopular with the public and promises to be an albatross around the neck of Florida Republicans in 2024. According to a recent poll conducted this month, Floridians are pro-union:

  • 72% of Florida voters agree that workers’ unions help FL’s economy. 
  • 81% are less likely to vote for politicians that weaken workers’ rights.
  • A whopping 93% of Floridians believe the government should NOT dictate to workers how to pay their dues.

This bill will also have a massive impact on Florida's Federal public transit funding. 49 U.S. Code § 5333(b) states (emphasis added)

“(1) As a condition of financial assistance… the interests of employees affected by the assistance shall be protected…

(2) Arrangements under this subsection shall include provisions that may be necessary for—

(A) the preservation of rights, privileges, and benefits (including continuation of pension rights and benefits) under existing collective bargaining agreements or otherwise;

(B) the continuation of collective bargaining rights.”

According to The White House, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, “Florida has been allocated $529.4 million to improve public transportation options across the state in fiscal year 2022 and 2023.” They also state that “Florida would expect to receive approximately $2.8 billion over five years under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve public transit across the state.”

In recognition of the threat this bill poses to Florida’s Federal transit funding, the bill sponsor amended the Senate bill to allow for the commission to waive certain requirements but his amendment fails to fully address the conflicts this bill has with U.S. Code § 5333(b).

If this bill becomes law, even with the amendment, Florida still stands to lose billions in Federal funding which would lead to a reduction of services to the public and massive layoffs of transit workers.
 

Together, we call on the Florida House of Representatives to reject this stunning government overreach, quit punishing public workers and to vote NO on HB 1445.

State and local labor leaders strongly condemn the bill: 

  • Lanny Mathis, President of the North Central Florida Central Labor Council & Business Manager of IBEW 1205 said: “This bill is an affront to all workers and it’s a direct attack on public sector workers' constitutionally protected rights. Each time this bill has appeared before a committee, whether in the House or Senate, the public comment has been overwhelmingly against this bill. The few times someone did speak in favor of the bill they were employed by conservative corporate think tanks or from out-of-state. It is telling that despite this overwhelming public opposition, Republicans, with a few exceptions, have voted to ignore their own constituents and pass this bill.”
     
  • Robert Arnold, President of CWA 3170, a public sector union representing workers at the City of Gainesville & Alachua County Library District, stated: “This is an attack on my rights and the rights of all my coworkers. Not all of my coworkers can afford to pay dues but they are thankful to be covered under our collective bargaining agreement. This would strip away their rights to a decent wage, good healthcare and a stable retirement and put all of it at risk.”
     
  • Zef Durham, President of ATU 1579, the public sector union that represents the workers at Gainesville’s Regional Transit System, said: “Not only will this bill cost taxpayers nearly a million a year in extra paperwork, this bill puts billions of Federal funding for public transit in Florida at jeopardy.”
     
  • Carmen Ward, President of Alachua County Education Association, the union that represents teachers & staff of Alachua County Public Schools, pointed out: “Florida is suffering a massive teacher and staff shortage that hurts Florida students. Nearly 10,000 teacher and staff positions are still empty across the state. We have over 100 job categories in the public school system that count on their union to protect their rights. The workers are over-burdened by the shortages and now we’re being kicked while we’re down by SB 256. This is horrible for Florida and her students.”
     
  • Melissa Merriweather, President of Marion County Educational Support Professionals, the union that represents educational support professionals in Marion County Public Schools, stated: “Attacks like Senate Bill 256/House Bill 1445 are not just against unions, but against people and communities. These people are employees, counting on the union to provide safer working conditions, collective bargaining, and due process. Our students are counting on us to fight for their education. Legislators should be focusing on staffing shortages to ensure that all students in Florida have the opportunity to receive a great public school education.”
     
  • Eric Rodriguez, President of United Teachers of Suwannee County, the union that represents teachers and workers at Suwannee County Public Schools said: “At a time when Florida is having trouble finding people willing to work in its schools, this attack on people working in those schools makes absolutely no sense."