Bill to Decertify Teachers Unions

January 2018


Speaking at Awake the State
By now Florida teachers should have heard the news that HB 25, the union busting bill passed the House last week, as we suspected it would. If signed into law, this bill aims to decertify unions that have below 50% dues paying members - unions like OCCTA. What does this mean? It means that we stand to lose our collective bargaining rights and our contract.
Focus to stop this dangerous legislation should be directed at the Senate right now. But we cannot take our attention away from the House just yet.  HB 7055, a 198-page education train bill was filed by Rep. Bileca (R-Miami) last week. It is filled with anti-public education provisions.
One of the most dangerous provisions specifically targets teachers’ unions. HB 25 targets certain public sector unions, exempting firefighters and law enforcement unions. Though not explicitly naming it, the bill’s intent appears to be to silence the teacher’s union, which is the strongest voice in Florida that speaks up for students, teachers and public education.
Unlike HB 25, HB 7055 doesn’t dance around its intent. It specifically targets the bargaining agents for instructional personnel. Language on pages 176-177 of HB 7055 spells out the direct attack on teachers’ unions. It requires bargaining agents like OCCTA to report over 50% dues paying members to retain bargaining agent status.
We are presently waiting for direction from FEA on what action to take as far as contacting our representatives. However, there is critical action that everyone must take immediately. Recruit!
We need to increase our membership to stay over the 50% membership threshold to keep our union and bargaining rights. Right now we have more members than we’ve ever had before, but we remain just below 50% membership. Reaching 50% would not guarantee that we could keep our union. At the end of every year hundreds of OCCTA members resign or find employment elsewhere. We need to reach at least 70% membership to give us a strong buffer against anti-public education, anti-union legislation. I am calling on every member to act in this moment of urgency by recruiting and strengthening our union. If every member recruited only one member this year we would far exceed our goal of 70% membership.
What will happen if OCCTA does not have over 50% dues paying members by the time either bill is expected to go into law on July 1, 2018? OCCTA is the bargaining agent for all teachers, members or not. If HB 25 or HB 7055 is signed into law, CTA will no longer be able to bargain on behalf of every teacher and instructional staff member. If either bill is signed into law, our contract will be gone. Everything we negotiated can be thrown out. The district, as the employer, will decide salaries and working conditions. We could see insurance costs go up and benefits decline. Salaries could become stagnant or could be lowered. We could face even more planning time being stolen for meetings, and additional duties being added to already overflowing plates. We could lose personal leave. Check out what happened to Wisconsin teachers after they lost their bargaining rights and contract at this link.
Tell every member what to expect if they do not recruit. Tell every future member what to expect if they do not join. Recruit like your career and quality of life depends on it because it does!
We cannot sit back and allow politicians with self-serving agendas to silence the most powerful voice in Florida that supports public schools –the teachers’ union. We cannot sit back and allow the silencing of the strongest advocates who oppose voucher schemes and the privatization of public schools. Teachers and their unions view public education as the cornerstone of our democracy. These legislators want to dismantle public education brick by brick. We cannot sit back and let this happen. Commit to action! 

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