Statement on Signing of SB 1746: “Florida’s leaders continue to stand in the way of workers fighting for better life.”

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis’ signed into law an anti-worker bill (SB 1746) sponsored by Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-11) that would place additional mandates on any person seeking to join their union. The Florida Education Association (FEA) has released a statement regarding the signing of this bill into law.

“Once again, Florida’s leaders are sending a message to workers that their dreams of a better life do not matter. This legislative session, we should have seen real wins for teachers, parents, and students. Our leaders should have championed significant increases in funding that would have been used to move salaries of Florida’s teachers to the top 10 in pay nationwide instead of their current rank, #48. Our leaders should have championed cost of living increases to help current and retired teachers, faculty and education staff professionals. Our leaders should have addressed a historic teacher shortage impacting students across the K-12 spectrum, and looked for ways to ensure educators have access to affordable healthcare or housing, and secured retirement plans that would help them continue to thrive after their many years of dedicated service.

“But that’s not what Floridians got from our elected leaders.

“Instead, Florida’s leaders continue to stand in the way of workers fighting for a better life by doubling down on last year’s anti-freedom bill by requiring a form full of anti-union propaganda be filled out by 60% of eligible employees or the union risks decertification. This law would require hard working teachers, education staff professionals, and professors to get permission from the state to be a union member— something that is not required to join any other organization in the state. For a Governor so focused on personal freedoms, this law smacks of government intrusion and bureaucratic red tape that actually limits the personal freedoms of workers in our state. Make no mistake about it- like last year’s law, this law was written by a shadow organization funded by dark money whose goal is to take away the rights, voices and contract protections of Florida’s middle class. But like last year, they will not succeed because voters want a strong middle class, and they want more for students and public education in their communities. In fact, a December 2023 Mason-Dixon poll found that more than 70% of voters believe Florida’s teachers should have the right to strike without consequence.

“While we thank the leaders in our legislature who stood up for workers and stood with voters by calling out the glaring hypocrisies with targeting this law at some workers but not others, it’s painfully obvious that Florida is only a free state for some. Parents and students deserve more and need their leaders to focus on creating a world-class public education system that has the necessary resources for students to succeed. All teachers, education staff professionals, and faculty have the right to fight for better working environments as they work toward better lives.”