HB 11 is on the floor of the Florida House of Representatives this afternoon, March 29th, for consideration on second reading and final debate and vote tomorrow, March 30th. This anti-union bill, if passed into law, will decertify UFF bargaining units with membership under 50% and force each such bargaining unit to win an election to retain the right to represent your faculty.
Here are TWO things you can do to stop this.
First, recruit a new member (online membership form here). This bill will only impact unions like ours with a membership density that is BELOW 50%. If you would like suggestions for colleagues to talk to, or need and information or materials, just ask!
Second, call the House Representatives below. Tell them to VOTE NO on House Bill 11. Encourage your colleagues, friends and family to call (but do not use UF resources – UF computers, UF email address, UF phones– to do so)! A simple, short “Vote No on House Bill 11” is effective, but more talking points are below.
- Elizabeth W. Porter (R), district 10. District Office: (386) 719-4600
- Clovis Watson, Jr. (D), district 20. District Office: (352) 264-4001
- Charles Wesley “Chuck” Clemons, Sr. (R), district 21. District Office: (352) 313-6542
Talking points
- This bill (H.B. 11) comes as no surprise; we have seen efforts like this before in Florida – and numerous nationwide attempts — to take away workers’ rights. This politically motivated legislation is a solution looking for a problem that doesn’t exist in Florida.
- We are a union of members who choose to participate – no one can be forced to join our union. Florida is a right-to-work state where union membership or payment of union dues cannot be compelled.
- The Florida Constitution gives employees the right to join a union to give them a strong voice regarding wages and working conditions. This measure would take away that right.
- This bill is not needed. Florida is a right-to-work state, which means people join only because they want to join.
- Our union is the voice of our members and their students – every student, every school, every college, every university, and every day. Faculty working conditions are our students’ learning conditions. You cannot separate the two.