The Florida Labor Letter – 2026 Session Debut (Week of 1/16)

Daniel Diaz |

Greetings Brothers, Sisters, and Kin!

My name is Danny Diaz, the FL AFL-CIO’s Communication’s Coordinator taking over from Michael Newberger.

I would like to welcome to the new edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly e-newsletter: The Florida Labor Letter! Building on the good work of my predecessors that went into our prior E-messenger program, we at the state federation hope to return to using this newsletter to provide you a weekly roundup of the latest and greatest from the Florida labor community, and keep you alert and engaged with the latest news, resources, and actions taking place from across the Sunshine State and nation at large! As the 2026 Legislative Session kicks off, what better time to start getting involved than now?

Future Florida Labor Letters will likely not have this lengthy of a pre-amble, but I did want to emphasize that this newsletter is built by and for the members of our statewide Florida labor community. If you have anything you’d like to suggest in the way of feedback or actions, events, and news you’d like to share in solidarity with your fellow brothers and sisters, please feel free to contact me at ddiaz@flaflcio.org or info@flaflcio.org for general inquiries. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Legislative Session 🏛️: Week of 1/16

This week marked the official kickoff of the Florida 2026 Legislative Session. Appropriately, it was also the official kickoff of our 2026 Working Families Lobby Corps! Members from FEA, IBEW, APWU, and more joined us in Tallahassee to get right to work, advocating directly to their legislators and speaking on a number of important issues for working families.

Members received in-depth briefings on the early important legislative developments, such as the re-energized push by the governor and legislature to reduce and remove property taxes, all while mandating counties continue to maintain certain spending levels, but with even fewer resources to fund them. With a state over-reliance on property and sales tax, a smaller hose to fund our communities means less water for public services like after school programs, parks and recreation, infrastructure repair and so much more. All the while taxes will increase elsewhere to compensate, squeezing already tight working families even harder.

This effort manifested this week in the second committee passage of HJR 203, which would gradually increase the homestead exemption for non-school-related property taxes by $100,000 each year for 10 years until they are fully exempted. Members of the Working Family Lobby Corps spoke against the bill in House State Affairs week with local communities to emphasize the risks that this legislation poses to working families, emergency and public services, school districts, and more. You can watch the full committee and public comment on The Florida Channel here and stay tuned to our socials for a closer look when our first episode of our Legislative Session Updates begin early net week!

Florida Labor News 🍊

SEIU-FPSU: Remembering Brother Alphonso Mayfield and Honoring His Legacy

​Last week, we heard the news of the sudden and tragic passing of Brother Alphonso Mayfield, President of the Florida Public Services Union. We join the FPSU in mourning this tremendous loss, would like to offer our sincerest condolences his wife, Alexis, and daughter, Eden and ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Born in Mississippi and raised in a working class family, Alphonso Mayfield understood deeply and acutely the plight and troubles of the working class and dedicated his life to the betterment of his community, combating economic and social injustice, and fighting fearlessly for the rights of his SEIU siblings. Mayfield served as Interim President of the FPSU since 2009, officially elected in full in 2010. We are grateful for his unwavering dedication and leadership not just to the FPSU, but also as a respected member of the SEIU International and SEIU Florida State Council.

As the Florida Public Service Union navigates this sudden transition, we welcome the appointment of FPSU Interim President Afifa Khaliq and share in her vision of honoring Alphonso Mayfield’s legacy and vision for the future of the FPSU. You can read her full letter here.

NEW AFFILIATE: IATSE Local 305

Please welcome the members of IATSE Local 305 to the Florida AFL-CIO family! Based in Miramar, Florida, IATSE Local 305 represents highly skilled Television Broadcast Technicians who bring professionalism, creativity, and technical excellence to productions across Miami Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County. Their members play a vital role in ensuring that the stories, events, and broadcasts that inform and inspire our communities are delivered with quality and care.

Local 305 is led by a team of President Wil Trinidad and Business Manager Adam Leifer, whose leadership and commitment to the craft have helped strengthen the local’s presence and impact. Supporting their work are Vice President Tim Mason and Secretary/Treasurer Brent Cohen, whose stewardship and dedication help ensure the local’s continued success.

We are honored to welcome these workers and their leadership into our federation. Their addition strengthens our collective voice and expands the reach of Florida’s labor movement at a time when solidarity and coordination matter more than ever.

To learn more about IATSE Local 305 and the important work they do, please visit https://iatse305.com

Solidarity Spotlight ✊

South Florida Nurses call off strikes after reaching deal with Healthcare Systems of America

Photo Credit: National Nurses United Organizing Committee/National Nurses United

Members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) demonstrated the power of solidarity last week when they exercised their authority to issue a strike as part of negotiations over their new contract. Advocating for safer staffing measures, nurses from Florida Medical Center (Ft. Lauderdale), Palmetto General Hospital (Hialeah), and Coral Gables Hospital (Coral Gables) were set to begin the strike on January 9th when members of Health Systems of America (HSA) realized that ironically: labor means business!

“Safe patient care means safe staffing,” said Patrice Aljoe, RN at Florida Medical Center. “…New measures in our contract are going to empower nurses to take even better care of our patients.” Read the full release on their website here!

On the Horizon ⏰🗓️

Here are some key dates and actions to keep on your radar in the coming week(s):

  • January 20th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
    • On this day we celebrate legendary civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In the midst of continued federal and state attacks on voting rights, worker protections and civil liberties state and nationwide, we join our siblings nationwide with a renewed commitment to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King in fighting for a better, more equal life for all.
    • Leading up to the official day, the National AFL-CIO is putting on the 2026 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference from January 15th – 18th. Members can watch the events, speeches, and more online at aflcio.tv or themlkconference.org
  • Tuesday 1/20 @ 5:30PM: Labor for Brian Nathan, State Senate Dist. 14: Voter Registration Phone Bank.
    • Join us to call into State Senate District 14 in order to call unregistered union members. We will notify them of their registration status and educate them about their union brother Brian Nathan’s run for the vacant Senate District 14 seat. Brian Nathan is fully endorsed by the Florida AFL-CIO! Learn more about his campaign here!
  • CALL: Tell the U.S Senate to Pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act!
    • Thanks to the efforts of union members in Florida and nationwide last December, the U.S House passed Protect America’s Workforce Act. It now resides in the U.S Senate. Join the national call campaign to tell your senators that it’s their turn to fight for their state’s workers and their union rights! Remember: Worker’s rights are a bipartisan issue!

Business Board 🛠️

Bonus Bulletin 🌅

ICYMI: The FL AFL-CIO Legislative Session Updates return next week! Check out our new Trailer below and stay tuned to our socials and YouTube for the first episode, premiering early next week!

That wraps up your Florida Labor Letter for the week of 1/16! In Solidarity from your Florida AFL-CIO!

Got any tips, actions, or messages you’d like to see in this newsletter?

Please email Daniel Diaz at ddiaz@flaflcio.org

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