To all faculty who value their contract and what it provides for you and your families–things like a fair and predictable salary, safe and secure working conditions, due process and grievance protections, academic freedom and benefits of tenure–we have an urgent ask for all of you (and it may not be the last this legislative session).
The Legislature keeps moving the goal posts in an effort to undermine public sector unions, the vast bulk of which are educator unions such as FUSA (while exempting first responder unions like police, fire, and correctional officers!). We need to make a stand and tell them we will not be silent as they try to diminish our right to have a voice in our employment conditions and compensation! This is a right enshrined in the Florida Constitution.
What you can do
SB 1296 Public Employees Relations Commission will be heard in its final committee of the legislature next week and can then head to a vote on the Senate floor. We need your help to stop this bill in the committee. This bill will, if passed, require more than 50% of the bargaining unit to vote in a certification election for those chapters under 60% density. It will stop all course releases for union work. It will also give a 12 month window on Showing of Interest Cards. This is a fast track to decertification. We need you to step up and do the following:
- Email members of the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee – While not required, it is helpful to personalize the message and to modify the Subject line some.
- Call the Senators on the Fiscal Policy Committee – Leave a short message by voicemail or the legislative aide urging the Senator to oppose the bill. It helps to leave your name and zip code.
- Register for Power Hours – FEA Power Hours are done virtually on Tuesdays during the session and are opportunities for us to lobby lawmakers together. They are organized on Zoom and you will be asked to call and email lawmakers. The first is today at 5:30pm.
Note: If you are a registered Republican, your participation will be particularly helpful.
FEA has noted some additional reasons this bill is bad for workers:
- SB1296 will make it harder for workers to support their families, and will hurt our communities. During a time when Floridians are struggling with an affordability crisis that is crushing family budgets and dismantling our ability to support our families, we need support, not policies that make it harder for us to live.
- SB 1296 will make it harder for you to pay your bills and make it harder for you to fight for and keep your healthcare
- SB 1296 will take away your voice at work and limit your personal freedoms, all while adding more bureaucracy to your workplace.
Tell your lawmaker TODAY to support workers in Florida, not make it harder to for us to support our families!
Faculty United Service Association 