DeSantis team warns teacher unions against ‘delay tactics’ in pay talks
Tampa Bay Times | Jeffrey S. Solochek | July 31, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis and education commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas came to Tampa on Wednesday with a message for teacher unions: Don’t stand in the way of efforts to distribute state-funded raises.
Lawmakers put an additional $100 million into the budget to improve teacher pay. When distributed across the state, the amount comes to less than 1%.
Since the money is set aside specifically for salaries, the officials said there should be no impediments in getting it into paychecks. Kamoutsas made that clear in a memo he sent to districts: “I will not tolerate union delay tactics when it comes to the rights and compensation of Florida’s teachers,” he wrote.
It’s not a new approach for the DeSantis administration. State Board of Education members blamed unions in 2023 for the slowness that some districts experienced in paying out state-funded raises that year, saying they used the money as a negotiating tool.
Union leaders did not appreciate the shout out. They noted that several districts, including Hillsborough and Pinellas, have begun their contract talks already.
They quickly pointed out that the state was months late in finalizing its budget, and the money has not arrived.
“We’re not even one month into Florida’s fiscal year, and they’re already blaming us for holding up raises,” said Lee Bryant, Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association president, calling the accusations insulting.
He said his district and union have a good working relationship, and have no intention of keeping money from teachers.
Jeff Larsen, United School Employees of Pasco president, mentioned his district’s success in getting teachers raises greater than 5% for three years running “despite the lack of adequate state funding.” He, too, anticipated collaboration to distribute the funds as soon as possible.
Pasco Superintendent John Legg made clear that he did not see the union as standing in the way of anything.
The issue came up Wednesday during negotiations in Hillsborough County, with union leaders stressing the importance of district officials doing their part, too, to get the funds to teachers.
Brittni Wegmann, executive director of the Hillsborough County Teachers Association, said a memo would be going out soon “to demand that we as a union get the dollars that the governor and Legislature have appropriated to the district.”
Florida Education Association president Andrew Spar said he wasn’t surprised by the governor’s anti-union efforts. “It’s the same story,” he said. “Blame the local teachers unions for interfering or holding back money.”
Meanwhile, he said, the state ignores the fact that while it pours an added billion dollars into vouchers, its increase of funding for public K-12 education doesn’t keep up with inflation. And Florida remains at the bottom of the nation for average teacher pay, he added.
During the roundtable discussion, DeSantis also discussed Florida’s efforts to decrease teacher vacancies, saying its many initiatives have led to an 18% dip in openings, Florida Politics reports.
