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Florida bill would tighten rules for public employee unions, drawing pushback from Leon County teachers
Senate Bill 1296 raises union recertification thresholds to 25% turnout and 60% voter approval, limits political activities on public time, and faces opposition from public-sector workers statewide.
- Advancing SB 1296, the committee sent the measure to the Senate floor, with Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, sponsoring the bill.
- Following 2023's SB 256, backers say additional changes are needed as public records show the Freedom Foundation and Mackinac Center helped draft the proposal with state officials.
- During testimony, over 100 workers opposed the bill, with Carol Hurst saying 'I have looked at picking up second jobs' and 'It can help keep us safe in the workplace and provide good working conditions.'
- A Senate staff analysis warns the bill's two-class approach risks constitutional violations, HB 995 has cleared committees and awaits a House floor vote, with the session ending March 13th.
- Widening the view, the 2023 law already cost more than 69,000 public employees union representation and would affect 1.17 million public sector workers, including about 156,000 teachers, while the Florida AFL-CIO represents more than 1 million members and retirees.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Bill targeting unions heads to Senate floor despite outcry
A state bill targeting public unions is headed to the Senate floor, despite major pushback. Scores of people spoke out against the bill during a Senate subcommittee Monday, saying it will silence the voices of working people. Among other things, Senate Bill 1296 would make the threshold for public sector union certification and recertification more difficult. Instead of requiring more than 50 percent support of all eligible voters in a union …
Tallahassee Reports
News Service of FloridaBill Targeting Union Votes Stumbles, But Advances in Senate
By Gray Rohrer, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Legislation putting new rules on some public sector unions’ certification votes is headed to the Senate floor after passing through committee Monday, but only after some GOP members expressed concern over the measure. The bill (SB 1296) was also amended to water down the thresholds for union certification and recertification. Instead of requiring more than 50 percent support of all eligib…
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