JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A bill awaiting the Governor’s signature could bankrupt roughly one-third of local teachers’ unions throughout the state.
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That’s according to the state’s largest teachers’ union, the Florida Education Association.
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Governor Ron DeSantis called on the legislature to impose more accountability and transparency requirements on teachers’ unions and other public sector unions -- with the exception of those representing police and firefighters -- in Jacksonville on Jan. 23.
“Having partisan groups basically get special privileges for deductions and all this other stuff, that doesn’t work,” DeSantis said during the January press conference.
This week the Florida Legislature delivered on some of the Governor’s asks.
Read: State board pushes for teacher pay hike amid delays
The final bill would prohibit public sector unions from automatically deducting dues from members’ paychecks.
It also requires the unions to disclose the salaries of their five highest-paid officials and how union funds are spent.
Public sector unions will also now have to maintain 60 percent membership… up from the current 50 percent requirement.
House sponsor Representative Dean Black (R-Yulee) argued the bill will hold unions more accountable to those they represent.
“Your union is going to represent you if you decide to join one and your rights are going to be respected and your right to know how your union is operating, financially and otherwise, is all going to be there for you,” Black said.
But Andrew Spar with the Florida Education Association noted the bill also requires unions to undergo expensive audits on an annual basis.
Read: ‘Everything on the table’ for DCPS superintendent, Dr. Diana Greene
He argued with some union chapters only pulling in a few thousand dollars a year, the cost of the audit could be a death blow to as many as one-third of FEA’s partnered chapters.
“And the employees in those districts would not have a union, a contract, a collective voice that they currently have,” Spar said.
Spar views the bill as punishment for challenging the Governor’s agenda.
“Because we’re people who will stand up and speak up for our students, for our communities and for our families and we see that this is a governor who goes after anyone who speaks out and he doesn’t agree with. That’s what he’s doing with Disney right now and that’s what he’s doing to teachers, staff and professors in the State of Florida,” Spar said.
There’s little doubt the Governor will sign this bill into law.
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When he does, it will likely spark legal action from the unions, which have fought for years against similar proposals.