As a state representative and proud daughter of a union member, I am deeply troubled by the union-busting bill passed this session in the Florida Legislature: SB 256 (sponsored by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill).
This bill represents an unwarranted government intrusion into the hard-fought rights and freedoms of workers to organize.
My mother, a devoted member of the Communication Workers of America for 30 years, worked at BellSouth, progressing from an operator to customer specialist. The union was instrumental in helping her retain her job during economic downturns when the company attempted to lay off workers; it also ensured she received her well-deserved pension upon retirement.
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As a former member and union organizer with the Florida Public Services Union, I have firsthand experience of the profound impact unions have on workers’ lives, consistently fighting for better wages, benefits and working conditions. Yet, the bills proposed and passed by my Republican colleagues aim to undermine these accomplishments in several ways.
Signed into law on May 9, the new legislation will ban the automatic paycheck deduction of union dues for public sector unions, making it much harder for members to stay in their union. This is despite the fact that hundreds of other automatic paycheck deductions are allowed. Public sector employers currently process numerous paycheck deductions for various purposes, from charitable donations to entertainment. Why should union dues be targeted and excluded from automatic deductions?
Second, all public sector unions must prove that they represent a whopping 60% or more of the total bargaining unit or risk being decertified. This requirement directly violates Article I, Section 6 of the Florida Constitution, which guarantees the right to collectively bargain. Florida’s public sector workers have a guaranteed constitutional right to be in a union, and these rights can’t be eliminated based on the inability of some to pay dues.
Furthermore, the law adds new recertification provisions, auditing and data collection requirements, along with other bureaucratic hurdles. During the Senate floor debate, Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) confirmed that an annual CPA audit would cost from $12,000 to$15,000. Gruters also pointed out that there are 137 unions in Florida with less than 100 members. Of those 137 unions, 100 have total annual budgets under $5,000.
The new law is state-sanctioned harassment of Florida’s public sector workers when we should be supporting and celebrating their contributions.
To portray himself as pro-teacher, Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed separate legislation he named the “Teachers Bill of Rights.” However, this move seems disingenuous, as the Republicans simultaneously pushed for bills like SB 256, which make it harder for unions to survive in Florida.
The governor’s proposed Teachers Bill of Rights cannot mask the fact that his party is only targeting certain unions that are out of favor with the GOP. Police, fire and correctional officer unions are exempt from SB 256. The fact that the bill creates exemptions for certain unions while punishing others shows that it has everything to do with advancing a partisan agenda.
Ultimately, this legislation is a power grab by Gov. DeSantis and his allies in the Florida Legislature. By attacking unions, the governor is seeking to consolidate his power and ensure that his agenda is pushed forward. This legislation is not about empowering teachers but rather about empowering the governor and his political allies. Florida’s teachers and students deserve better than this cynical attempt to undermine their rights and the education system.
We must not permit unwarranted government interference to weaken the essential work of unions and their pivotal role in safeguarding workers’ rights. Let us stand together in solidarity with Florida’s union members — contact your legislators to urge them to stand up for the right to organize, and to reject future bills such as SB 256.
Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, Florida House District 13
This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.
