It’s been less than one year since Florida’s Republican-dominated legislature pushed through a law that makes it harder for unions representing public sector employees to survive in the state. Now, its Republican champions are pushing for changes to address confusion the law’s implementation has caused.
The new proposal has largely fallen under the radar over the course of the first few weeks of Florida’s 60-day legislative session, which kicked off earlier this month, although it appears it’s being fast-tracked for passage.
Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill) and Rep. Dean Black (R-Jacksonville), have filed new legislation (SB 1746/HB 1471) that would, in part, help more public sector unions skirt new, stringent requirements imposed on them by the law both Republicans sponsored last year.
At the same time, the new proposal — already backed by anti-union organizations like the Freedom Foundation and Koch-founded Americans for Prosperity — could also make it easier for the state to decertify unions and thereby nullify their contracts.
The legislation, signed into law last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis and described by the governor as a “paycheck protection” measure for public workers, issued a ban on the decades-old practice of deducting union dues from members’ paychecks. It also required unions to submit annual reports demonstrating that at least 60% of employees they represent are dues-paying union members.