Florida Labor Letter – Stadium Stories and Last Minute Deadlines (Week of 4/9)

Daniel Diaz |

Welcome to another edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly Florida Labor Letter for the week of 4/9. As the national headlines this week continue to shock and awe, throwing many of our heads into a whirlwind, it can get easy to get lost in what has happened at home here in Florida. Thankfully, we are here to recap the latest for you on what’s been happening in the Sunshine State with Labor. Let’s get into it!

🏛️Legislative News:

Special Session Looms, Budget Still Lingers

Those looking for our Florida legislature to convene and finish their overdue business on the budget any sooner than the very last minute should look elsewhere. This week, Senate President Albritton and House Speaker Perez both released memos to legislators communicating that there was not yet sufficient budget agreement between the chambers to warrant meeting next week ahead of the April 20th Special Session. Instead assured the public (as the House bluntly put it) that “When we have an update on the timing of the budget, we will notify you.” Take your time guys! No rush on funding the third biggest state!

Those monitoring their calendars will note that we are now 11 days away from a April Special Session on Redistricting, though as we mentioned last week, after recent special election results and continued silence from the U.S Supreme Court on the gerrymandering case that inspired the special session, we’ve little clarity on what it will actually look like. In their detailed memos, both chambers indicated that they will share further news and a schedule sometime next week, so…the wait continues!

“Ideologies Inconsistent With American Values” Bill Receives Governor’s Signature…And Heads To Court

The Governor continued his bill signing grand tour this week. Readers last week will recall last week’s tour stop in Tampa, passing the Florida SAVE Act and subsequently getting sued by the Florida NAACP and the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans.

This week, Governor DeSantis returned to Tampa to boast the passage of the HB 1071, a bill that Working Family Lobby Corps members may know better by its Orwellian Senate name of “Ideologies Inconsistent with American Values.“ The bill, which allows the state to designate any group as “domestic terrorist organizations” via the executive appointed “Chief of Domestic Security” was a point of fierce contention this past session, with many members of the public and legislature highlighting its vague definitions and threats to free speech, especially in the shadow of dangerous national misuse of terms like “Domestic Terrorist” to justify the killing of American civilians during ICE Protests earlier this year.

With its many implications on freedom of speech of groups everywhere and lack of real appeal or transparency to the process of being designated as a domestic terror organization, the bill faces significant court battles by groups such as the the Center for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) (who were previously attempted to be declared as terrorist organizations by the Governor) and even DeSantis’ own supporters, such as Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini, who fear the bill’s implications in hands beyond this Administration’s.

🍊Florida Labor News & Solidarity Spotlight✊

Stadium Success Stories from Florida’s Union Workers!

As Floridians look forward to the spring thaw and the return of cheering/booing for sports in the sun rather than protesting with signs in the street, here are some upbeat stories for you from the past 2 weeks of Florida workers helping build the future of some of Florida’s biggest franchises!

Tropicana Field Brought Back into Play Thanks to Ironworkers!

The 2026 Baseball season has made its long awaited debut this year, and for fans of the Tampa Bay Rays, this has meant the end to an even longer wait for players and fans wishing to return to their Tropicana homefield in St. Petersburg. Following damage to The Trop’s famous roof during Hurricane Milton, the team was forced to temporarily relocate for the 2025 season, but returns to operations this year thanks to the incredible work of union workers like Christopher Torres, an Ironworker originally based out of Local 48 in Oklahoma, who was featured in this week’s Tampa Bay Times as a part of the over 60 workers who made possible the reconstruction of the Tropicana Roof in time for the Ray’s home opener on Monday. You can read the story and see the viral footage of construction Torres shared in the article here!

SMART Local 435 Kick off Contracts and More in Future Jaguars Stadium!

Meanwhile, North Florida’s own Jacksonville Jaguars are facing a relocation of their own as construction begins on the remodeling and expansion of their signature EverBank Stadium. While cheers of “DUUUUVAALLL” will have to be made from Orange County for the 2027 season, (to be played from Camping World Stadium in Orlando), the cheer may still be heard from members of SMART Local 435, who kick off their contract work on the EverBank expansion this month. Last year, Local 435 and the North Florida Building and Construction Trades Council made headlines when they secured a monumental victory after lobbying for participation and representation in the EverBank Stadium expansion. Their work:

  • Established mandatory apprenticeship and local hiring requirements for city-funded projects.​
  • Secured a commitment for up to $675,000 to expand and support union apprenticeship programs in Jacksonville.
  • ​Maintained a consistent presence of 50+ building trades members (primarily Local 435) at public meetings.​
  • Won union contracts officially for the HVAC ductwork and exterior architectural metal of the new stadium.​

Whether you’re a Central Florida sports fan glad to be cheering at home or a slightly confused North Florida fan wondering whether cheering a county name in a different county is appropriate, all Floridians can cheer knowing that our teams’ successes and iconic venues are all made possible by Florida Labor.

🗓️On the Horizon

  • Statewide
    • April 20th – April 24th: Congressional Redistricting Special Session
      • As announced earlier this year, the Governor seeks to convene the legislature back in April for an attempt at redistricting and gerrymandering the state’s congressional districts, despite it not being a census year. Despite a lack of hard enthusiasm by legislators, we will see if the appetite for this issue even pans out as the U.S Supreme Court waits to make the final the decision on Louisiana v. Callais, an important case on the influence of race and party on congressional redistricting, and a budget still lingers unfinished.
    • June 12th – June 14th: 2026 Florida AFL-CIO COPE Endorsing Convention
    • First Monday of every Month: FLARA Monthly Meetings:
      • The Florida Alliance of Retired Americans (FLARA) invites any and all to attend their monthly zoom meetings. FLARA meets on the first Friday of every month at 10 AMEST, and features guest speakers and relevant information for retirees from national and state governments as well as important information on demonstrations, partner activities, etc.
      • Those interested in attending FLARA meetings should contact tammy@flara.org in order to get the monthly.
  • Nationwide
    • April 28th – Worker’s Memorial Day
    • May 1st – International Worker’s Day / May Day
      • For worker’s everywhere, May Day and Worker’s Memorial Day represent days to remind us that the wealth of our community comes from the labor of everyday people. Fair wages, safe workplaces and the right form a union aren’t just ‘worker issues’; they are issues that affect everyone, and they inherit a long history of solidarity, action, and leadership across industries.
      • As we approach these historic days in the Labor movement, stay tuned for more news on how to get involved in local actions, events, and more!
    • May 9th – National Letter Carrier’s Food Drive
      • Each year, letter carriers across the country head out on their routes on the second Saturday in May to collect donations of non-perishable food items to benefit local food pantries. Since launching in 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive, helping to fill the shelves of food banks in cities and towns throughout the United States.
      • You can prepare to participate in next month’s Food Drive by visiting the NALC Website to find your nearest participating food bank or NALC branch!

🛠️Business Board

📸Bonus Bulletin: Pets in Protest

Though No King’s is a few weeks behind us now, we couldn’t help but wish to thank some of our canine companions who continue to join and show solidarity with us no matter the time, place, or protest.

That concludes this week’s roundup! Thank you for reading and as always, In Solidarity!

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

Please email Daniel Diaz at ddiaz@flaflcio.org

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