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FUSA updates! (Talking Blues edition)

In the grand folk tradition of Talking Blues, the following post will address some recent issues affecting Higher Ed and workers in general. We aim to inform and, when possible, provide some options for organizing around and responding to these issues.

Woody Guthrie, could we use you now!

Talkin’ syllabi postin’ requirement blues

FUSA has learned through monitoring efforts by FEA public policy advocates and the UFF government relations committee that the State board of Education is amending the rule governing the FL Statute, 1004.085 – Textbook and instructional materials affordability and transparency, which contains the mandatory syllabi posting requirement.

One curious thing about laws not covered by Schoolhouse Rock is the rulemaking process. This is the process of laying out how the law (or statute) is implemented and interpreted. Where the law has the broad strokes, the rule includes the fine detail. Rulemaking authority is typically granted to the agency executing the law. Agencies can also amend the rules. In this case the State Board of Education (SBOE) is seeking to amend the previous rule imposing syllabus requirements in some significant and concerning ways.

While we’ve gotten used to posting our syllabi in advance and the process thus far has been fairly simple and straightforward, the SBOE seeks to change that. The new rule seeks to add the following onerous and unrealistic syllabus posting requirements:

  • Required and recommended textbooks and reading materials
  • student assignments including a title, brief description of the assignment, and any required readings

Find the full text of the of the proposed rule on the State’s page for FCS Textbook Affordability: Rule 6A-14.092, Florida Administrative Code. The State needs to hear from faculty about this ill-advised rule change and why it is simply not a realistic expectation. Leave your public comment on the State Board Rules Under Review page before the next State Board meeting on November 13, 2025. (look for the row: 6A-14.092 – Textbook and Course Material Affordability and Transparency)

Talkin’ get your politics outta my academic freedom blues

The attacks keep coming from both the federal and state levels. We need to stand up united and push back! Here are some resources on Academic Freedom from the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors as well as actions you can take to help protect it.

Talkin’ government shutdown sent me to the food kitchen blues

With the longest government shutdown in our history still affecting furloughed (or fired) federal workers and citizens in need of government services, and with no clear signs of resolution in sight, we have some options for making your voice heard. Please consider taking action with one or more of the options below:

myfusa bargaining

Endless Summer (not endless bargaining!)

In honor of the recent passing of Brian Wilson we hope you are having a great summer whether restful, adventurous, or otherwise. And while we hate to burst your summer bubble we do have some important FUSA news.

We’d hoped to have bargaining wrapped up in early May, however administration could not agree to economics proposals due to the Florida Legislature’s inability to finalize the budget before the end of session. But, after an extension into June, there is now a new budget approved and signed by the governor.

Next bargaining session

Though we can’t bargain an endless summer, we can bargain better wages and working conditions. If you are in town, we urge you to attend bargaining Tuesday, July 15, 9 am – 4 pm in YLRC 305 (Ybor Campus). Even if you can only stay for a portion of the negotiations a steady stream of faculty in attendance speaks volumes about our solidarity. Please see the bargaining update recently sent to email by FUSA President Sherry Sippel for the status of all proposals thus far.

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May Day, Graduation, Bargaining, and more

As many of you you know May 1 is International Workers’ Day (or Labor Day) for most of the world. The U.S., too, has a history of celebrating it prior to officially recognizing Labor Day on the first Monday of September. There are national events planned for Thurs May 1 and locally on Saturday May 3.

Graduation

As always, FUSA is hosting the Faculty Graduation Breakfast at the Florida State Fairgrounds on Friday, May 2, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. For more information, view the invitation.

Bargaining

The fourth and currently last planned bargaining session is slated for May 9 at the Ybor City Campus, YLRC 305, from 9am – 1pm. All faculty are invited to attend FUSA bargaining sessions with Administration. In fact, we encourage it! Even if you can’t stay for the full session a steady stream of faculty in attendance speaks volumes about our solidarity.

The FUSA Informant and more

If you haven’t read the latest issue of the FUSA Informant, fear not. We have it linked online so you can read about your union and the various happenings this spring.

And…some news from NEA

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FUSA makes a statement

While there was little suspense, FUSA easily bounded the hurdle of union recertification with a clear signal that legislative union busting attempts will not win the day! Voting closed April 1, 2025, and the ballots were tallied and reported by PERC, the Public Employees Relation Commission.

As FUSA President Sherry Sippel noted, “A resounding 99.2% of voting faculty were in favor of continuing to be represented by FUSA as their collective bargaining agent! In addition, almost 70% of the faculty voted!  That sends a strong message to the legislature that their next union-busting tactic of requiring more than half the bargaining unit to vote will surely fail here at HCC.”   

View the official Tally of Ballots | Screenshot of the ballot count

UFF President Teresa Hodge added, “Please join me in congratulating the Faculty United Service Association of Hillsborough Community College on their PERC election win today…Our bargaining unit members are continuing to make it clear that they want to keep their collective bargaining rights and their union by voting ‘YES for UFF!’  UFF now has nine (9) chapters that have won their PERC elections.  So, let’s celebrate each PERC win as we continue to thrive against all the odds!”

On behalf of the FUSA Council, our sincere thanks to everyone for casting their vote! United we are stronger!!

Bargaining – round 3

Our third of four scheduled bargaining sessions will take place April 4 at 9am – 1pm in YLRC 305 (Ybor Campus). As agreed to by both Admin and FUSA, this is the last session at which article proposals can be presented. Here is a Bargaining Summary of the proposals presented thus far and their status after the first two sessions.

All faculty are encouraged to attend bargaining sessions and stay involved! When we pack the room with faculty it really makes a statement–much like our PERC victory–that your contract is important and so is your union.

Legislative updates and action

Advocacy in Tallahassee by faculty and educators, with the help of UFF, FEA, and Working Families Lobby Corps, is making an impact. So is FEA’s weekly power hour Zoom meetings and legislative actions which have resulted in thousands of emails and phone calls each week to legislators on proposed legislation.

For instance, the perennial “guns on campus” zombie bill is dead once again! And this year’s union busting bills are having a hard go of it, seeming to be stalled in both chambers. Meanwhile, the Higher Ed “Presidential searches in the sunshine” bill is getting closer to becoming reality and would fix a terribly politicizing change made to a once open process.

Keep up the pressure with these actions (select “United Faculty of Florida” as your local union):

More ways to get involved:

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Ballots, Bargaining, and B.S., Oh My!

A lot is going on both locally for FUSA and at the state and national level regarding education and higher ed in particular. Your union is committed to helping safeguard and improve working conditions and pay for faculty. And there are times when we need to call on all members to lend a hand in these battles because our strength is in our numbers. Looking out for each other is the true meaning of solidarity.

Ballots

By now you should have received a FUSA Fire notification in your HCC email from FUSA President, Sherry Sippel, outlining the frustrating background behind the union recertification vote we are required to hold.

You should have also received your ballot by now at your home address. If you haven’t yet received your ballot, contact us as soon as possible. You may also email FUSA_President at hccfl.edu or jbullian at hccfl.edu.

It is imperative we get not only all FUSA members but every single HCC faculty member to vote YES to keep the union. This will send a strong message to Tallahassee that these unwarranted bureaucratic hurdles recently mandated for teacher unions, among others, are both a waste of time and taxpayer money.

Bargaining

Our second of four scheduled bargaining sessions occurred Feb 21. Both Admin and FUSA presented article proposals. Here is a Bargaining Summary of the proposals presented thus far. The next bargaining session is slated for April 4 at 9am – 1pm in YLRC 305 (Ybor Campus). All faculty are encouraged to attend and stay involved! We had a good faculty turn out last time. Let’s try and improve on it and get even more faculty to show up!

And now for the B.S.

Not only are we in the midst of the 2025 Florida Legislative session, we also are witnessing unprecedented attacks on government and education that have come with the new presidential administration. The “move fast and break things” approach has been callous, chaotic and incompetent.

If you are feeling powerless and looking for a way to stand up and fight for education and the institutions that have made this country great, your union is here to help. In fact there are large national alliances that are pushing back on these attacks.

FUSA is tracking the issues and actions with the help of our state and national affiliates. Our Issues & Actions section will provide resources to help you Get Involved, Get Informed, and Take Action, among other resources.

A great example of union power and solidarity happened on Feb. 25, 2025 in D.C. at a rally held by Labor for Higher Education, a group consisting of higher ed labor unions banding together to oppose the targeted attack on workers and funding at colleges and universities. Concurrently, an online meeting was held during which participants called their legislators and other officials and urged them to oppose these unprecedented attacks on academic workers across the country. If you missed the rally you can watch the video below (note the audio clears up at about 0:1:40 or so).

The event featured:

CWA Vice President, Public, Healthcare & Education Workers, Margaret Cook
AAUP President Todd Wolfson
UAW 2750 President Emilya Ventriglia
AFT President Randi Weingarten
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler
AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride
UAW Int’l Executive Board – Region 6 Director Mike Miller
Rutgers AAUP/AFT member Annika Barber
UE General President Carl Rosen
NEA Council for Higher Education Alec Thomson
HELU Chair Levin Kim/UAW

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Urgent: all members needed to sign “The Form”

We are calling on all members to once again rally in defense of your union, FUSA, against the arbitrary and onerous dictates of the Governor and his super-majority legislature in Tallahassee.

Please check your HCC email for a message from FUSA president Sherry Sippel, subject line: “FUSA FLASH: Action Needed from all HCC-FUSA Members!” Please follow the submission instructions and submit this form as soon as you can!

This year’s law (SP 1746) is a follow-up to last year’s SB 256 which outlawed payroll dues deduction for public employee unions (primarily educators while exempting first-responders). You responded by signing up for eDues and we surpassed the membership threshold. Then at Spring Inservice you signed the mandated “showing of interest card” as if paying dues didn’t already signify your interest in being in a union.

Now, we have “The Form.”

In order to comply with the new law we have to sign another form meant to ensure members know Florida is a “right to work” state and that union membership isn’t required. You already know this and you choose to be a member of FUSA. This form isn’t going to stop FUSA from having the strongest higher ed union membership in the state.

Thanks for all you do!