News

AFSCME Florida Statement on Recertification Win at City of Oakland Park

Today, after weeks of mail-in voting, the members and workers represented by AFSCME Local 2526 voted overwhelmingly to recertify their union.

AFSCME Florida Statement on Recertification Win at New College of Florida

Today the hardworking men and women represented by AFSCME at New College of Florida voted 100% unanimously in favor of recertifying their union with a nearly 75% turnout.

AFSCME Florida Statement on Recertification Win at University of Central Florida

Over the past few weeks, the hardworking blue-collar employees of the University of Central Florida represented by AFSCME Local 3345 voted by mail for the recertification of their union.

Advocating for increases in starting and longevity pay

A Florida Phoenix article reports: 

Union leaders argue that increasing the starting pay for low-paid state workers could help alleviate staffing shortages at agencies by attracting new workers.

FAMU Workers Protest Poverty Wages

Local 3343 at Florida A&M University held a protest Tuesday, Febuary 1 to call for management to bargain a fair contract for underpaid workers. See a brief overview of some of the resulting press coverage of the event. Remember, when we fight, we win! 

FAMU union workers protest for livable wages

Year in review: 2021 was a banner year for Cultural Workers United


2021 was a banner year for Cultural Workers United

Walker Worker Union (AFSCME Council 5)

Manatee School District Workers Approve Agreement

AFSCME Local 1584 members approved an agreement which increases salaries and provides a retention bonus.

Local 10 Tampa Bay News quoted Local President Deena Howell. "I think overall we have a great contract and everyone from the administration to the employees demonstrated a lot of passion and commitment in coming to this agreement," she said.

Howell has been a school bus driver with the district for 17 years and said many like her had started to feel over-worked and undervalued.

Legislative Report Jan. 31 2022

January 31, 2022 Highlights 

BILLS OF INTEREST 

SB 270/HB 1327: Funds for Student Transportation, sponsor Travis Hutson (R) 

Funds for Student Transportation; Modifying requirements for determining student membership in a school district in order to determine the annual allocation for funding for student transportation, etc. Creates more routes without funding mechanism. Effective Date: 07/01/2022.  

Legislative Report

January 24, 2022 

Compiled by Region 2 PEOPLE Chair Dr. Flamm

BILLS OF INTEREST

SB 270/HB 1327: Funds for Student Transportation, sponsor Travis Hutson (R)

Funds for Student Transportation; Modifying requirements for determining student membership in a school district in order to determine the annual allocation for funding for student transportation, etc. Creates more routes without funding mechanism. Effective Date: 07/01/2022. 

Helpful Rules of Use of Rescue Plan Funds

On January 6, the Treasury Department issued Final Rules on the use of the American Rescue Plan's $350 billion in flexible aid to states and local governments. The final rules offer some significant new opportunities to advocate for public employees including:

Got Student Debt? New Guidelines For Forgiveness

The PSLF Program is a federal loan debt relief program. Unlike Income Driven Repayment (IDR) plans, PSLF is not a payment plan. Rather, it is a separate program that incentivizes a career in the public service by forgiving the remaining balance on a federal loan after 10 years (or 120 payments) under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in the public service.