Teacher unions say Florida has ‘failed miserably’ in effort to break them
Tampa Bay Times | Jeffrey S. Solochek | June 12, 2025
Back in 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a measure making it tougher for public employee unions to continue operating.
Unions had to meet stricter guidelines demonstrating that at least 60% of all workers eligible to join approved of their existence.
Some have been trying to meet the mark ever since. The delay has not been their doing.
The Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, for instance, delivered more than 4,000 interest cards to the state Public Employees Relations Commission 464 days ago. The cards represented a petition seeking a vote to retain the union.
The PERC did not call that election until this week. It took so long that the union had to petition for a second vote after the first year passed without one. Voting will begin June 17 and run through July 15, with the results determining whether PCTA will continue as teachers’ contract bargaining agent.
Leaders in both organizations said they hope for similar outcomes to those of other teacher unions in similar spots. The Florida Education Association announced Monday the 100th consecutive local win.
“In an obvious attempt to break the educator unions, the legislature has failed miserably,” Pinellas union president Lee Bryant said Wednesday in a released statement. “Educator unions around the state of Florida are 100-0 in their votes to keep their unions. PCTA is confident they will prevail as well.”
