Florida Labor Letter – Expanded Sessions & Solidarity (Week of 4/17)

Daniel Diaz |

Welcome to another edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly Florida Labor Letter for the week of 4/17. In this edition, we’ve finally got some news on Special Session, as well as some recent labor actions and prep ahead of May Day! Let’s get into it.

🏛️Legislative News

Special Session Pushed Back…and Expanded?

This week, Florida’s politicos received news all too common these days- more delays! With the soon due state budget confirmed as still not ready and the U.S Supreme Court still silent on the Louisiana redistricting case ahead of the Governor’s planned April 20th Redistricting Special Session, many Floridians were awaiting the cancellation or indefinite delay of the plan, as so many other issues have proceeded this session. Instead, the Governor surprised (and confused) many when he issued a proclamation not just kicking back the Special Session one more week, but ADDING two more issues to the Special Session Agenda: Revitalizing the “A.I Bill of Rights” and “Medical Freedom” bills passed by the Florida Senate but rejected by the House this year. For a quick refresh, these were:

  • SB 482 – Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights by Senator Leek (now to be taken up by Senator Brodeur)
    • This bill received our cautious support early on this session for its proactive consumer and child protections from Artificial Intelligence chatbots and more, but ultimately lacked the adoption of any worker protections as it moved throughout the Senate. Though we still favor some of its provisions, we are cautiously watching what the re-vitalization of this bill will look like as it relates to worker protections and data privacy.
  • SB 1756 – Medical Freedom by Senator Yarborough
    • As put eloquently by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, this unfriendly bill sought to weaken school-entry immunization requirements and move state policy away from established, evidence-based childhood immunization schedules, including allowing for conscience-based exemptions and allowing for the over the counter sale of controversial medications such as Ivermectin without a prescription. We continue to be opposed to this measure and the risk it poses to public safety shift away from evidence backed treatment across all of our workplaces and our schools.

As it relates to the original lofty goal of redistricting, the Senate President Ben Albritton stated that “It is our expectation that pursuant to the proclamation issued by the Governor and consistent with the process undertaken during the 2022 Special Session on Congressional Reapportionment.”

So will any of it work or get done? Great question! You may have noticed a certain voice absent in all of this announcement, that of the Florida House of Representatives, which rejected taking up either of the aforementioned Senate bills during the regular session, and (at the time of writing) has been silent on this announcement. House Speaker Perez has continually been positioned opposite the Governor and Senate President on an number of issues throughout session such as expressing alignment with President Trump’s position on refusing to introduce state regulation on AI, the now absent Property Tax discussion that the House passed into uninterested arms, and the perpetually unfinished State Budget A.K.A The ONLY bill that the Legislature MUST pass. As next week rolls into view, we will be sure to keep you posted of any new developments from the professional stewardship of our legislative leaders.

🍊Florida Labor News

South Florida Unions Give Voice to Working Conditions and Fair Pay Ahead of FIFA World Cup

This week in South Florida, as covered by NBC 6, The Miami Herald, WLRN, and more, over two dozen labor unions and community groups like the Florida Immigration Coalition joined forces to hold a press conference at the Miami-Dade County Government Center, where they demanded that FIFA, governing body for the World Cup, and its Miami-Dade Host Committee provide more safeguards and better worker protections. Despite the tournaments arrival in just a few months, South Florida AFL-CIO President Jeffrey Mitchell told the press

“What we are seeing points to blatant violations and intentional efforts to circumvent the committments and ethical processes that FIFA promised to South Florida taxpayers”

Union leaders have met with the Host Committee over 12 times so far and have not yet secured guarantees for the tournament’s workers. Though the Host Committee refused to comment on their actions so far, the workers brought needed pressure to city hall, where the Mayor’s office re-affirmed its support for Florida labor’s seat at the table following local organizer’s critiques of their cooperation so far.

We stand in solidarity with our siblings in South Florida in their fight calling for safer work and better pay. As one of the biggest sporting events in the world, drawing in millions of attendees and viewers worldwide, there is no excuse for an organization like FIFA to not be able to compensate their workers in South Florida fairly or guarantee their safety.

Union Busters Receive a “Warm” Welcome in Central Florida

This weekend, CUE, better known by its former name of the Council on Union-Free Environment is congregating in Tampa for its Spring Conference brainstorming session on “Strengthening Positive Employee Relations.” Don’t let the buzzwords buy you though, as Tampa Bay Creative Loafing’s McKenna Scheuler helped detail this week: the gathering is actually a three-day exercise for anti-union employers on how best to combat the growing popularity of organized labor. West Central FL CLC President Stephanie Yocum put it best that one:

“only needs to look at the agenda and keynote speakers to see that this event is a gathering of union busters, a $400 million industry of parasites who earn a living making the lives of working families more difficult.”

Friendly reminder that despite all the legislative efforts and narrative spins against workers organizing, labor unions are still favored and approved by 68% of U.S Adults as of last Labor Day. Despite this, anti-union activity continues to be a million dollar industry bankrolled by billionaires and companies like Amazon and Starbucks that prioritize profit over the people who bring it in. Despite their best efforts at this weekend’s CUE conference, Floridians know that no matter how much they spend or scheme, the power will continue to rest in the workers, and when workers unite in solidarity, they win.

✊Solidarity Spotlight

IUOE Fight Off Decertification in Tampa Bay

Speaking of worker efforts and wins, this week’s Solidarity Spotlight highlights the efforts of IUOE Local 30, whose workers help power and maintain facilities across New York, Connecticut, and Florida! In Tampa Bay this week, IUOE members at the Tampa Bay Water Facility voted again to protect their union and their new contract in the wake of continued attempts by our legislature to squeeze them out. You can give them some support and solidarity over at @IUOELocal30 on Instagram and Twitter!

🗓️On the Horizon

  • Statewide
    • NEW DATES: April 28th – May 1st: Expanded 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, the budget lingers unfinished, AND two new action items are added in AI and Vaccination Law.
    • June 13th – 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, you can find a nearby event at the National AFL-CIO’s May Day Mobilize Center here.
      • Are you or your local interested in hosting an action? You can use this mobilize template to get started!
    • 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

FSU Holds Moment of Silence, Reflects on Shooting One Year Later

Tomorrow marks 1 year passing since Florida State University was the subject of a tragic school shooting near the Oglesby Student Union that killed two and injured six. FSU President Richard McCullough took the time this week to address and appear with students to pay their respects to the lives lost and endangered on that dark day, lighting the university’s symbolic three torches in tribute to those impacted by the tragedy.

On a personal note, some readers may know that as your Labor Letter author and Communications Coordinator, I am also an FSU Graduate Student, and I can recall clearly the increasing sirens and more that rang across campus that day and the stillness that befell it for the remainder of that semester. I am proud to be an FSU student, and despite the troubling history of gun violence facing schools across our union, I am deeply thankful to the university’s response, staff, faculty and students alike for their resolve, care, and solidarity during this week, as well as all of those across Florida who have displayed the same. Go Noles. 💛❤️

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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