2022 Florida AFL-CIO Convention Highlights

The Florida AFL-CIO hosted our Committee on Political Education and Biennial Convention at the Hilton Buena Vista Palace in the Orlando area from June 23rd to June 26th. Throughout the convention, members from every corner of the Sunshine State met in solidarity, elected leadership, endorsed candidates, and planned for the future of Florida’s Labor Movement.

We’ve put a video together of some of the highlights and speakers of the convention, which you can watch here.

Multiple elected officials and candidates spoke and joined us at the convention. The Florida AFL-CIO endorsed pro-labor candidates for the 2022 Elections, including Representative Charlie Crist for Governor and Representative Val Demings for the U.S. Senate. You can find all of our endorsements here.

We were also joined by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and AFT President Randi Weingarten, you can watch the live stream of President Shuler’s address here and President Weingarten’s address here.

Labor leaders were also elected at the convention, including the reelection of Florida AFL-CIO President Mike Williams and Florida AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Dan Reynolds. Congratulations and solidarity to all who were sworn in.

Saturday, June 25th, union members and labor leaders gathered for our Labor Hall of Fame Gala to honor members who have gone above and beyond in service for Florida’s working families. A huge congratulations and thank you to this year’s winners: Sister Elsie Marie Allen of the North Central Florida Central Labor Council, Brother Preston Drummond of Teamsters Joint Council 79, Brother Larry Kidd of IBEW 606, Brother Claudino “Tito” Rosario of UNITE HERE 362!, and Sister Lynne Webb of AFT 3600.

Thank you to all of the union members and staff who helped us accomplish such a great convention. The future is bright for Florida’s labor movement!

Florida AFL-CIO Special Session Update

Last month, the Florida Legislature jammed through legislation that would eliminate the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the taxing and governing entity for the Walt Disney World property. While the special session was supposed to focus on redistricting, legislation targeting the district and the Walt Disney Company was introduced the morning of session with no forewarning.

The legislation was filed as revenge for the private company’s decision to speak out against the Governor’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill.” While there are issues with Reedy Creek that should be examined and some changes could be made, this was a rushed proposal that simply wipes out the district, threatening thousands of union jobs and could lead to radical increases in property taxes for residents of Orange and Osceola counties.

With only a few hours’ notice, the Florida AFL-CIO was the ONLY organization that was able to quickly mobilize, educate legislators as to the perils of this move, and speak out against this attack on the workers of Central Florida in time.


For more information on the story and a look at the debate over the bill, check out our Special Session update. You can watch it here, as well as on our Facebook and YouTube pages.

South Florida AFL-CIO Rallies in Support of Unionizing Starbucks Workers

Monday, April 11th, members of the South Florida AFL-CIO, Miami Springs City Councilman Victor Vazquez, and community allies rallied in support of unionizing Starbucks workers in Miami Springs and against union-busting tactics by the coffee giant. Over 60 people attended the rally, including members of CWA, Teamsters, TWU, IUPAT, and UTD.

Workers at the Miami Springs Starbucks, located at 52 Curtiss Parkway, Miami Springs, Florida 33166, filed for a union election on March 14th, and ballots were set to be received Wednesday, April 13th from the National Labor Relations Board. In the lead-up to the election, management at the location has ramped up union-busting methods, including mandatory anti-union meetings.

The unionization effort at the Miami Springs Starbucks is part of a unionization surge at the coffee chain nationwide, and union members in the South Florida Area are standing in support of the unionizing workers.

“We are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with these workers to support their organizing efforts in any way we can against corporate giants like Starbucks that want to continue to suppress wages and benefits and not treat their workers with the dignity and respect they deserve as they pursue a better life for themselves and their families,” said Jeffrey Mitchell, President of the South Florida AFL-CIO.”

Members of the Starbucks Workers United Miami Springs Organizing Committee thanked their sisters and brothers in labor for rallying in their support.

“I wanted to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for showing up to support us today and all of the work you put in to make today a resounding success for our workers and union effort. I know, without a doubt, that everyone who entered those meetings left feeling a strong sense of support from our broader union brothers and sisters as well as a renewed enthusiasm for the hard work that lies ahead. This success would not have been possible without the unconditional support and experienced advice that was given to us in the days leading up to this demonstration.

There is no doubt in my mind that we are going to win our union and secure a contract that benefits all of our workers and their needs. Once again, thank you all so much for the time and energy you generously offered to us today. If you could forward this message to whoever needs to hear it, it would be greatly appreciated.”

In solidarity,
The Starbucks Workers United Miami Springs Organizing Committee

Other Starbucks locations are pushing to unionize here in the Sunshine State, including in Hialeah, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville.

2022 Legislative Session Sine Die Brief

The 2022 Florida Legislative Session has officially come to a close. The Legislature could not pass the budget in a timely manner, so the 2022 Legislative Session was extended until today, March 14th. The legislature adjourned Sine Die this afternoon at 1:03 P.M. 

Below, you will find our official Sine Die report, including information on the key bills facing Florida’s working families and whether or not they passed this year. Click here to download the brief.

Florida AFL-CIO Legislative Update Week 6: Jeers!

For Florida’s workers, making their way in the world today takes everything they’ve got! Unfortunately, the Florida Legislature is decidedly not a place where everyone knows your name. It’s another week of cheers and jeers in the Sunshine State!