Florida union – A GOP-backed measure passed the Florida Legislature and was sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis, with key changes affecting teachers and other non-public safety unions.
Cassie Urbenz spends about 20 hours each week serving as a therapist, lawyer and customer service representative for union members.. As president of the Graduate Assistants United chapter at the University of Florida. she helps handle grievances for more than 4. 000 fellow union members. assists them with paperwork and explains how to access benefits.
Urbenz said her role is also beneficial to the university. “It’s helpful for (workers) to have peer support,” she said. “It’s in the best interest of the university and helps facilitate the success of its employees.”
Under a contentious bill that advanced through Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature. Urbenz’s union and others like it across the state could face decertification.. The legislation cleared the House with a 73-37 vote and passed the Senate 20-14.. All Democratic lawmakers in both chambers opposed it, while most Republicans supported the measure; 13 GOP lawmakers voted against.
The bill was sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday. He has until May 15 to act. The measure would take effect July 1 if it is not vetoed, and a veto has been described as unlikely.
Two classes of public unions in Florida
The legislation would establish two categories of public unions in Florida.. “Public safety” unions—such as those representing police, correctional officers and firefighters—would be exempt from the bill’s provisions.. All other public employee unions would fall under new requirements. including unions representing teachers. healthcare workers. and municipal and county government employees.
A central source of controversy, critics say, is that the bill restricts certain political activity by union members and raises the standards for union certification votes.
What the bill would change for non-public safety unions
Among the requirements outlined in the bill, critics focus on two main areas.
First. the measure would bar public employers from compensating union representatives with taxpayer funds if the representatives are engaging in certain “employee organization activities.” Those activities can include lobbying to influence legislation or participating in campaign and political activities.. The provision does not apply to public safety unions.
Second, the bill would require a certification vote to establish a new union bargaining unit to be valid only if at least 50% of the workers in the bargaining unit participate. Under previous rules described in the bill summary, there was no specific participation threshold.
The measure would also require existing union bargaining units where fewer than 60% of workers have submitted membership forms and are paying union dues to go through a recertification vote. Public safety unions would again be exempt from that requirement.
Supporters and opponents disagree about the intent and impact of those changes.. Democratic critics argued the bill would make it harder for public workers to organize and could raise constitutional concerns.. Rep.. Anna Eskamani. an Orlando Democrat. said the measure changes standards in a way she compared to elected officials being held to an impossible bar.
Concerns over political retaliation and constitutional rights
Democrats framed the legislation as an attempt to retaliate against teachers unions.. They pointed to the Florida Education Association. which describes itself as the state’s largest public employee union with about 150. 000 members.. Critics said the group tends to endorse Democratic candidates and has devoted much of its political spending over the last two decades to Democratic nominees.
By contrast, critics said public safety unions more often back incumbents across party lines, aiming to strengthen their influence through endorsements they expect to be effective.
Sen.. Jonathan Martin. a Fort Myers Republican and the bill’s sponsor. defended the limits on the grounds that the education-focused unions were the ones experiencing low participation in certification and related votes.. He also argued that the bill is aimed at unions where, in his view, members do not have sufficient buy-in.
Other opponents testified that restricting union leadership compensation tied to political activity could violate free speech.. Lori Bradner. a union representative for Randall Middle School in the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association. testified against the bill in Tallahassee in February and argued that restrictions on how union leaders are paid when they engage in political activity infringe on rights.. Bradner, who is a Republican and a teacher for 17 years, said her work is her livelihood.
Role of previous law and legal challenges
The bill follows other recent actions by Florida lawmakers aimed at non-public safety unions.. Opponents said the new measure adds to restrictions passed after Gov.. DeSantis signed a 2023 law that prohibited public employers. on behalf of the unions. from automatically deducting union dues from workers’ paychecks—leaving union dues collection to the unions themselves.. Public employee unions were exempted from that particular provision, and the 2023 law has been challenged in court.
A state Senate staff bill analysis of an earlier version described the proposal as appearing to create “two distinct classes of public employees.” The analysis said the bill treats collective bargaining rights and freedom of speech differently between public safety and non-public safety employees and that it could risk violating constitutional rights through unequal treatment.
DeSantis review and union response
Urbenz. the University of Florida graduate assistants union leader. said her union’s work involves navigating employment-related processes while also advocating for members.. She said she has been working on release time from her teaching assistant job while continuing to be paid her salary by the university.. To comply with the bill’s requirements. she said UF and the union have agreed she will be paid going forward by the union.
Urbenz argued the bill complicates and makes union organizing more difficult. She described Florida as a “fight-to-work” state rather than a right-to-work state, and said the new rules would change how unions function for workers across the state.
The governor now has until May 15 to decide whether to sign the bill or veto it. If it takes effect, it would begin on July 1.