Introduction to the Broward Teachers Union Election
The Broward Teachers Union is facing a long-awaited vote to determine whether the group can still exist. The vote for recertification comes two years after a state law left it more challenging for public-employee unions to keep operating. The union president says she feels confident the group will see an election win. The Broward union’s ballots, which were mailed to all teachers, will be counted Monday. A majority must vote in favor of the union in order for the group to continue.
Background on the State Law
About 100 other education unions in the state already have held and won elections, the Florida Education Association announced in a statement last month. Among those with successful elections were the teacher unions in Miami-Dade County, which voted last year, and Palm Beach County, which voted two months ago. Certain unions have taken up such votes after not meeting a threshold set by the state law: The legislation requires a supermajority of employees in a bargaining group to pay union dues, despite government agencies no longer being able to deduct union dues from their payroll.
Impact of the State Law on Unions
Under the changes, unions must be recertified annually, which can only be made possible through an election if fewer than 60% of eligible employees submit their membership forms and pay dues. Fusco said Broward’s teachers union was at about 54% last year when it petitioned for the recertification election. The membership figure has risen slightly, now about 55%, she said. Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, said all of Florida’s teachers unions that have so far participated in elections voted for recertification.
The Voting Process
The Florida Public Employees Relations Commission is the agency responsible for scheduling and counting the votes. The commission didn’t hold most elections for education unions until this past school year, according to the agency’s website. Gordan Longhofer, president of the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association, said the commission’s delay in scheduling the election has put the union in a difficult spot. The group voted to recertify in May, but the union may have to now petition for another election.
Longhofer said the legislation requires unions to file for recertification each year and that the Palm Beach County group is below the 60% membership threshold. “It’s a bureaucratic nightmare for everybody involved,” he said.
Concerns About the Timing of the Vote
Fusco said she asked the commission, to no avail, if Broward’s vote could be moved to the first week of school in August. She said she was concerned about how teachers who aren’t working during the summer would vote. “I can’t make 13,000 phone calls in three weeks,” Fusco said. “And people are traveling. They’re busy. They’re vacationing.” Summer votes also are planned for teacher unions in Pinellas, Duval and Collier counties, the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission’s website shows.
Other Bargaining Units and Unions
Fusco said other bargaining units within the Broward Teachers Union, such as ones for technical support and charter school employees, have already won recertification elections. Most counties have other unions outside of the teachers associations that also represent school district employees, such as bus drivers and custodians. In Broward, those workers are represented by the Federation of Public Employees, which won its recertification in April, according to the commission’s website.
Consequences of Losing Certification
A small number of education unions in Florida have lost their certification, because they weren’t able to gather enough support through interest cards to get an election. For example, in Palm Beach County, the Association of Educational Secretaries and Office Professionals representing clerical workers was decertified last year for this reason, Longhofer said. To successfully petition for an election, unions must get interest cards from 30% of its members. Spar said the Florida Education Association is looking to take over at least four unions that dismantled.
The Reasoning Behind the Legislation
Notably, the law exempts law enforcement, firefighter and correctional officer unions. Union leaders have argued these groups have been excluded because they’re more aligned with Republicans. DeSantis’ reasoning behind the legislation is that it would ensure dues don’t unnecessarily come out of paychecks for teachers who aren’t intending on being involved in the union, he has said. “If you want to join, you can, but you write a check and you hand it over,” he said in 2023 when he signed off on the new requirements. “That is gonna lead to more take-home pay for teachers.” Spar disagrees.
Conclusion
He said he hasn’t heard of a single employee who asked for this kind of legislation and that the election wins are proof of that. “Not only is [the law] not working,” he said, “it goes to show the determination of educators and others in this state to continue to have a voice at work.” The outcome of the Broward Teachers Union election will be a significant indicator of the future of public-employee unions in Florida.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the Broward Teachers Union election?
A: The purpose of the election is to determine whether the union can continue to exist, as required by a state law that makes it more challenging for public-employee unions to keep operating.
Q: What is the threshold for union membership required by the state law?
A: The state law requires a supermajority of employees in a bargaining group to pay union dues, with unions needing to be recertified annually if fewer than 60% of eligible employees submit their membership forms and pay dues.
Q: How many education unions in Florida have held and won recertification elections so far?
A: About 100 other education unions in the state have already held and won elections, according to the Florida Education Association.
Q: What happens if a union loses its certification?
A: If a union loses its certification, it may be taken over by another union, such as the Florida Education Association, which is looking to take over at least four unions that dismantled.
