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This morning, the Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability will take up SB 78 which creates unnecessary bureaucratic paperwork and limits the individual freedoms of many frontline workers, including educators. 1/x
As always, you can watch the committee meeting live, or later on demand, via @floridachannel. There are a few bills ahead of SB 78 on the agenda. We'll be monitoring and will resume tweeting when SB 78 is taken up to keep you informed. 2/x
The committee is now taking up SB 78. You can read more about it here: https://feaweb.org/news/take-action/stop-sb-78/
@FLSenatorTorres seeks clarification, 'Why do you believe we need to make this change in the law?'
Bill sponsor Rodrigues: "I think the employees should have the right to choose."
(spoiler alert: Employees ALREADY have that right).
Bill sponsor Rodrigues: "I think the employees should have the right to choose."
(spoiler alert: Employees ALREADY have that right).
The first public input is from a professor at FSU who tells the committee this bill is "redundant" and says the state should have "no role" in union membership. "This is a matter for individual workers," as he asks the committee to vote no.
Next in testimony is @StefKunkel. She says, "If this bill were to become law, it would make it harder for employees to join and maintain their union membership, a right protected under the Florida Constitution. Florida is a right to work state"
Kunkel continues, "We would ask what is the compelling reason to insert the employer between the employee and their union? Our Frontline workers, including educators, have been keeping Florida running during the pandemic; employers are fighting to keep their employees safe, and..
teachers and administrators are struggling to keep students focused on learning.
The last thing legislators should be focused on is burdening frontline employees with signing unnecessary paperwork to keep their union membership.
The last thing legislators should be focused on is burdening frontline employees with signing unnecessary paperwork to keep their union membership.
A professor from Tallahassee Community College is up next to speak. He tells the committee, "70% of our TCC faculty have chosen to be union members. Requiring these individuals to assert their decision each year is insulting and government overreach."
From @FLAFLCIO, Dr. @rtemplin is up next to speak. He tells the committee, "this bill will create chaos for frontline workers and their families."
Templin continues, "most of the folk represented by this bill are people who are serving my family and your families during this difficult time...workers will not know from one minute to the next if they are protected."
There has yet to be a speaker in favor of the bill (though several people have waived in support). Up next to speak is a graduate assistant from Florida A&M who also asks the committee to vote no on this bill, "Do not create unnecessary problems."
Now a graduate assistant from Florida State University who points out that SB 78 violates the state constitution.
Again, you can watch live or on demand at any time via @floridachannel https://thefloridachannel.org/
Again, you can watch live or on demand at any time via @floridachannel https://thefloridachannel.org/
Both the Florida Firefighters and the Florida Police Benevolence Association have joined the chorus of voices asking the committee to vote no by waiving in opposition to SB 78.
The final speaker is another graduate assistant from FSU. "This bill unduly penalizes our members due to a quirk of timing. This bill does them (graduate assistants) a great disservice and will harm Florida's educators."
In debate on the bill @FLSenatorTorres says "This bill is just another attempt at union-busting and another solution in search of a problem...we don't need this bill. At all."
Sen. @LindaStewartFL says, "I've heard from police, firefighters, educators and other public employees who have asked us all to oppose this bill. So I will not support it."
@kellistargel supports the bill, "I don't see a downside to the bill. I think it's great."
(She might want to listen to police, firefighters, educators and other public employees like her colleague Sen. @LindaStewartFL did.)
(She might want to listen to police, firefighters, educators and other public employees like her colleague Sen. @LindaStewartFL did.)
On a party line vote, SB 78 passes its first committee stop. Committee members are listed below.
The bill will make its next stop on Monday, February, 1 in the judiciary committee. We'll keep you updated as it moves along.
The bill will make its next stop on Monday, February, 1 in the judiciary committee. We'll keep you updated as it moves along.
