Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Signs Union Recertification Reforms
TALLAHASSEE, FL — Workers for Opportunity, a national organization focused on advancing workplace freedom for employees across the country, applauds the Florida legislature for passing and Gov. Ron DeSantis for signing pro-worker public sector labor union reforms regarding union recertification.
These pro-worker reforms, championed by the Freedom Foundation, require that at least 50% of all government employees in the bargaining unit participate in any vote, and that of those voting, at least 50% plus one vote to recertify the union. Otherwise, the union is decertified because it failed to get support from a simple majority of the workplace.
Gov. DeSantis called it a, “Huge win to hold partisan school unions accountable.” Similarly, Ryan Petty, Chair of the Florida Board of Education said that SB 1296 will, “Hold teachers unions accountable.”
“Most government employees have not had an opportunity to vote on the union in their workplace. Workers should have the ability to regularly vote on union representation to ensure the union still represents the will of the majority of the unit’s workers,” said David Guenthner, Executive Director of Workers for Opportunity.
“Collective bargaining in this bill has to happen in an expedited manner because it sure is a financial urgency to make sure that our teachers get their hard-earned dollars to support their families,” said Florida State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka. “They should want every union to do a good job. To be held to accountable. To stand up and collectively bargain in favor of their members.”
SB 1296 included additional reforms including limiting the activities union members can do to ensure that union members cannot lobby, campaign or recruit members while on the taxpayers’ dime.
Florida continues to put worker freedom first. In 2023, Florida passed SB 256, which increased union transparency and changed how union dues were collected for public employees – making sure that the government was no longer the dues collector for the union.
“Public sector union members are free to join and pay a union, but taxpayer resources should not be used for political activity. Today, union members pay their dues directly to the union just like Floridians directly pay their Netflix, gym and Sam’s Club or Costco membership,” Guenthner said.
The 2023 legislation, championed by Gov. DeSantis, ended the practice of automatic payroll deduction for union dues and required unions to notify members annually of the cost of membership. Additionally, public employees can opt out of union membership at any time.
Workers for Opportunity recognizes Gov. DeSantis and the Florida legislature for promoting pro-worker policies that give government employees more control over their own paychecks.
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Workers for Opportunity is a project of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. WFO’s goal is to advance the liberty of employees across the country and protect their First Amendment rights by ensuring they have a full and informed choice in union membership.
