Florida Senate Passes Union Bill

0:00This is Corey with Tampa Bay News today, powered by the Daily News Now. Florida's Senate just passed Senate Bill, 1296, a measure that raises the bar for public sector unions to get certified or renew their status. The bill targets groups like teacher unions, public hospital doctors, and sanitation workers, but it spares firefighters and other first responders. If membership drops below 60% of eligible workers, unions would face tougher recertification rules. Here this week, hundreds of union members rallied in Tallahassee against the bill, which has strong support from the Anti-Union Freedom Foundation. On Friday, the Senate votes saw five Republican side with all Democrats to oppose it, including Senator Ed Hooper, a former firefighter union leader. From Pinellas County, critics say the bill creates unequal rights for different workers, and violates both federal and state constitutions on collective bargaining. Senator Jonathan Martin from Fort Myers argues it's needed because some unions lack real

1:00member backing and act more like political tools, pointing to a failed lawsuit by a teacher's union over pay incentives. This isn't the first push like this. It builds on 2023 laws that curb union organizing, with lawmakers calling teacher unions, role blocks to raises and sources of misinformation. The bill gains steam after a viral video clip from a teacher's union event, shared by school choice advocates, sparked outrage over perceived student, activism, officials like education commissioner, Anastasio's Commatzus, Governor Ron DeSantis, and even U.S. education secretary Linda McMahon urged action. Now it heads to the house, where the version has different wording. This story is made possible by our sponsor, see the episode description. No earbuds, no headbands, no awkward sleeping positions, just a pillow that plays your sound. S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com