Teachers Union

A federal judge backed two public school unions in a legal battle over dues deductions. Educators say this is good news, but will continue watching for potential challenges to other parts of the sweeping union law.

A judge said a Florida dues deduction ban unconstitutionally violated existing collective bargaining agreements for the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association and the Hernando United School Workers unions.

The Florida A&M and St. Lucie County unions, along with the United Faculty of Florida and two educators, filed a lawsuit last week in Leon County circuit court alleging that the changes made in 2023 and this year violate constitutional collective bargaining rights.

A federal judge sided mostly with the state on a law that public-sector union leaders say makes it harder to continue representing their workers. One part of the law still has room for debate, however.

Accusing Florida of "dangerous political theater," state and national teachers unions have urged an appeals court to side with a transgender Hillsborough County teacher who challenged a law requiring educators to use pronouns that align with their sex assigned at birth.

Negotiations typically stretch into the fall or even spring semester. But, this year, teacher union leaders and school officials landed a swifter compromise.

The Tampa Bay area's largest teachers union, the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, was just shy of the required number of members.

SB 256 raised requirements for public-sector unions to remain certified. Some teachers unions in the Tampa Bay area are fighting to survive.

Ever since the passage of a union law in 2023, tens of thousands of public employees have lost their bargaining rights.

More than 4,000 teaching positions need to be filled across Florida. In the greater Tampa Bay region, there's about 880 vacancies.

United Teachers of Dade says that more than 30% of its members have formally signed statements affirming they want to keep their union — a key step required by the state agency that oversees Florida's public unions. Next, UTD members must vote to recertify the organization.

United Teachers of Dade failed to clear the threshold of having 60% of its members pay dues — a new requirement for public unions under state law. Now, Florida's largest teachers union could lose its contract as a result.