We believe in a future where workers in Florida can support themselves and their families with just one job, where everyone has the ability to build a better life, where educators are respected and empowered to work with parents to ensure very child has their needs met, and where our lawmakers at the local and state level are in tune with the needs of working families.
That future is possible- but only if we continue to work and stand together.
National leaders recently came together for a Statewide Town Hall hosted by the Florida Education Association and the Florida AFL-CIO. Here is what our panelists had to say in response to your questions about the importance of this election, how we can tackle affordability and the cost of living increases across the state, the future of public education and how we can continue to support public sector workers and Floridians:
Princess Moss, National Education Association President
Anti-union and anti-worker policies are driven by the knowledge that when workers come together, they succeed. There are forces in our country that would rather us be divided. It’s so important for members to share their stories and talk about our lived experiences because it will inspire others…to ensure that workers have what they need.
Andrew Spar, Florida Education Association President
There are so many rules that interfere with public sector employees- not just educators but our city workers, our county workers, our state workers, our transit workers and more- all who are part of the public sector, including nurses at our public hospitals. Our constitutional rights are constantly infringed on and if we want to change that, then we have to build the most powerful unions our nation has ever seen and we have to get out and vote.
Kimberly Holdridge, Florida AFL-CIO President
This election cycle is so filled with hope for all of us, because we can see a path where we can start helping to provide some relief to working families if we can change that 28 year super majority in the Tallahassee legislature.
Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers President
Theres a shot right now to turn around Florida. We haven’t had this shot for a long time. We will never match the money that there is against workers- but what we have and what is so important for us is we have people….
They do not want unions, they do not want regular people to have power- and people are fed up about it. Do we want our life to be better? …This time, people are looking for a different answer. It’s going to happen by people talking to their friends, their neighbors, their family members, the people they go to church with, that’s where people power comes in. This is the opportunity, but we need all of us to be on it.
Elizabeth Shuler, AFL-CIO President
The future of work can look bright if we all have a stake in it and we have the power to bargain our fair share. But if we are not educated and engaged and mobilized, we leave this in the hands of five to seven billionaires and that is going to be a future that we all don’t want…
Working people are fed up, they are fired up. People are done being disrespected and taken for granted and this economy is so broken for working people that I think we have all reached the end of our rope. We want some leaders who are going to stand up and fight for us. Now is the opportunity that we have to get in there and right the ship and write a new chapter in Florida. It’s going to take everyone!
Here is how you can get involved today:
