For the 200th time, educators in Florida have voted to recertify their local union, according to the Florida Education Association (FEA). Since the passage of Senate Bill 256 in May 2023, more than 50 FEA locals have undergone two recertification elections each. The FEA states that none of its locals have lost a recertification vote so far and that an average of 94.5% of ballots cast favored keeping their unions and collective bargaining agreements.
The process for union recertification is managed by the Public Employees Relations Commission and involves costs funded by taxpayers, including agency staff time and resources. The passage of SB 256 made this process more complex and costly by eliminating automatic payroll deduction for union dues and imposing additional requirements for rectification elections. Some parts of the law have faced legal challenges, with courts expressing constitutional concerns.
According to the FEA, these policies are increasing taxpayer costs while making it harder for workers to manage rising living expenses in areas such as healthcare, childcare, food, and property insurance. The association argues that most educators support their unions because they believe collective action helps them secure better pay and benefits.
“When educators and education workers are given the opportunity to vote, they vote overwhelmingly to keep their unions. They know that when they come together in a union, they can advocate for a better life, better wages, and better benefits. Florida’s educators want what all working people want: to pay their bills with a single job, access affordable healthcare, work without political interference, and retire with dignity after a lifetime of service,” said an FEA spokesperson.
The FEA describes itself as Florida’s largest professional employee association with 120,000 members representing PreK-12 teachers, higher education faculty, educational staff professionals, students preparing to become teachers at colleges and universities, as well as retired education employees.
