Update

Florida Labor Letter – Budget Gains and Good Trouble (Week of 5/15)

Daniel Diaz |

Welcome to another edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly Florida Labor Letter for the week of 5/15. This week saw legislators return briefly to Tallahassee for budget talks (often behind closed doors). Meanwhile, unions made gains and good trouble across the state! Let’s get into it.

🏛️Legislative News

Budget Session Part One (In Brief)

Courtesy: FOX 13 Tampa Bay

This week both chambers of the Florida Legislature re-convened in Tallahassee to begin work on the long-overdue General Appropriations Act, their only constitutionally mandated bill that ideally should’ve been done in March- but you know all about those delays by now.

Last week we gave you a breakdown of the state budget process and schedule and this week the initial process largely unfolded as predicted, with short notice joint committees appearing and updating the public as to the ongoing closed door negotiations between chambers. If you want to view some of these blistering fast committees yourself (and the press interviews follow them right after), the Florida Channel has an entire State Budget page dedicated to them! In those videos you’ll see a lot of questions from capital reporters investigating evolving details on issues such as funding for higher education, as pictured below.

We mention these videos partially because they are pretty informative and interesting opportunities for the public to see their government in action (thanks Florida Channel!), but also because the keen eyed members of our fourth estate will use these opportunities to peer into the politics behind the scenes and spotlight questionable spending that would sneak by otherwise, like this

Originally identified and reported by investigative journalist Jason Garcia, one of the latest budget offers from the Florida Senate quietly included a proposal for Florida taxpayers to continue paying for the Governor’s security detail for 12 months after he leaves office. Nationally, the U.S Secret Service has a similar protocol for outgoing Presidents, but at the state level, such practice would mark the first time ever used for state officials, and raises questions about safety and who ought to foot the bill for it for individuals no longer in office.

The proposal comes at a noteworthy time, emerging from the more governor-aligned Senate the same day as a press conference in which Governor DeSantis took extended aim at the Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, suggesting he gave orders to House members not to file any bills supportive of his recent attempt to re-introduce the AI Bill of Rights or “Vaccine Freedom” for personal political reasons. Opining on his own role/influence on the Senate’s new security detail proposal for him, The Governor declined to take a position or ownership, stating he has “no idea” what security he’ll need after leaving office, and shifting the decision to FDLE instead.

So What’s Left?

After the legislature leaves today, the budget moves into its “bump” phase as we outlined last week, with Senator Ed Hooper (who announced his retirement this week!) and Representative Lawrence McClure taking until Memorial Day to resolve the outstanding issues leftover by committees this week. The Legislature will return to present, “cool,” and vote on the Budget in two weeks, where we will see the final totals on state funding before they head to the Governor.

🍊Florida Labor News

Terminated Spirit Employees File Lawsuit After Sudden Closure

Earlier this month, after bailout negotiations between its creditors and the Trump administration collapsed, low-cost airliner Spirit Airlines abruptly announced the cessation of all of its operations, resulting in the sudden termination of over 17,000 jobs and cancellation of thousands of flights nationwide. Based in Dania Beach, the company cited unsustainable rising jet fuel prices related to the 2026 Iran war as the final nail in a coffin of weakened financial positions. Whatever their financial forecasts were though, the company’s termination was so brutally sudden that everyone from pilots to passengers, and even other airliners, were sent scrambling across the US to deal with the sudden instability of canceled flights and more.

This week, as reported by the Miami Herald, NBC Miami, and others, those former employees, which span pilots who were told to ignore media warnings all the way to union workers in the middle of contract negotiations, are now filing a class-action lawsuit against the company claiming it violated the Federal WARN Act, which requires employers give 60 days advanced written notice before mass layoffs. Amidst the sudden loss of benefits, jobs, and yet unpaid sick leave and vacation pay, the case is strong that Spirit management misled their employees and left them in free-fall, and we hope that this measure provides some accountability and relief on the horizon.

In the meantime, those impacted from the layoffs may benefit to learn that per the U.S Department of Transportation, other major airliners such as American Airlines and United have begun to offer preferential employment interviews to those former Spirit Employees impacted by the closure. You can find more resources on the business board below.

✊Solidarity Spotlight

Action Update 2: USF Campus Service Workers Head Towards New Contract Ratification!

In a story ongoing since April, we’ve been following up on the activism of SEIU 32BJ service workers at the University of South Florida, who after a hard fought re-certification battle in the wake of SB 256, have been enduring a dispute with an increasingly unresponsive and distanced management company that was seeking to cut benefits and give inadequate raises.

Since then, this labor community has been hard at work campaigning both for awareness and pressure to force management company SSC services back to the bargaining table to demand for fairer wages and preserve hard earned benefits. Beginning initially with Solidarity calls and petitions in the community, members of the USF Labor Community ramped up to public media events that brought even Tampa City officials into the fray. The end result-as of this week-is a new, fairer contract with SSC that is currently undergoing ratification by bargaining unit members. Said best by SEIU 32BJ Brother Sean Armill in an address to the community

“We couldn’t have gotten here without the amazing community support. Media coverage, rally attendance, and petition signatures showed SSC that you have the workers’ back and that a fair settlement was their best option.“

In a state where so often the stories from Capitol Hill can seem to communicate a labor movement on the defensive, stories like this from right at home in our communities demonstrate the profound resilience and tenacity of Florida’s working families. Not only that, but their success continues to demonstrate that no matter what may be touted on X or from the legislative bully pulpit, Organized Labor is alive in Florida, and it will continue to work by and for the people, with solidarity and success. A huge congrats to these workers!

🗓️On the Horizon

  • Statewide
    • May 25th: Memorial Day
    • Week of May 29th: Budget Special Session “E” Part Two
      • Following this week’s joint budget conferencing, the remainder of the budget work to be done will be by the House and Senate Appropriations Chairs between now and after Memorial Day. That week, the Legislature will reconvene to debate and vote on the final product.
    • 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.
  • Regional (NEW!)
    • North Florida
      • Saturday, May 23rd – Big Bend Labor Chapter May Day Picnic!
        • Rescheduled originally due to inclement weather in North Florida, the Big Bend Labor Chapter invites you to join in celebrating International Worker’s day with food, fun, and solidarity- no matter the time of year!
        • 1PM – 3PM @ J Lee Vause Park in Tallahassee, FL
    • South Florida
      • Saturday, May 16th – South Florida AFL-CIO Labor 2026 GOTV Campaign Kick-off Breakfast
        • Join the South Florida AFL-CIO this weekend and get excited to mobilize this upcoming November election! From GOTV and voter-registration education, there is no shortage of ways to make sure that pro-worker candidates are elected at every level to support Florida’s working families.
        • 10AM – 12PM @ Pipefitters UA Local 725 in Opa-Locka, FL
      • Saturday, May 30th – 2nd Annual Broward Teacher’s Union 5k Run for Education!
        • Join the Broward County Teacher’s Union in Hollywood, FL for a day of fun in the sun with a cause! This 5K aims to fundraise crucial dollars for the Broward School Community, with all money raised going directly back to Broward County’s Public Schools, funding programs and resources that help students thrive! You can learn more, register, and donate here!

🛠️Business Board

📸Bonus Bulletin

Has Labor Gone Vintage?

Spotted in a Thrift Store in Tallahassee, we recently stumbled upon this “1980s Voting Poster” from the AFL-CIO reminding us that in America, we count every vote. Very true at the time. Still, despite the classic lettering and its presentation among clothes from decades prior, there is a timeliness to the message, which makes us wonder…when does something become vintage? You let us know, but whether you call something like this a timepiece or timeless, you can’t argue that since it arrived on the scene, organized labor will seemingly never go out of style.

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

Florida Labor Letter – A Budget Breakdown (Week of 5/8)

Daniel Diaz |

Welcome to another edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly Florida Labor Letter for the week of 5/8. With a week of quiet on Florida’s Capitol Hill between special sessions, there is still plenty going on across the state. As Lawmakers prepare to return next week, let’s get into what we can expect, and more!

🏛️Legislative News

Florida Legislature To Reconvene (Again) For Budget Work

Following the legislature’s quick and dirty 3 day redistricting ram through of new congressional maps ahead of the mid-terms in Special Session “D” last week, the legislature sped home last Wednesday to let the courts deal with the fallout and resume their waiting on news of when they could reconvene to finish passing the only bill that they are required to- The General Appropriations Act A.K.A The State Budget. This week, legislative leadership in both chambers sent out memos to members filling in the gaps since their announcement several weeks ago that they had finally agreed on top lines and were now ready to do the actual work of negotiating how it is spent. For reference, those top lines are below.

With a due date of July 1st before the current budget expires (risking a partial government shutdown), Senate President Albritton and House Speaker Perez announced to members that members should expect to return to Tallahassee next Tuesday May 12th, where they will participate in budget conferencing via joint committees created for each of the above categories. Here is, in brief, how the budget work- well, works:

A Brief Run Down of the Budget Process

Unlike a regular session committee, Florida’s Appropriation Committees are composed of members from both chambers in order to negotiate over differences in their preferred budgets. Most negotiations are done in between committee appearances by lawmakers behind closed doors, and committees are noticed as short as an hour in-advance in order to update the public as to what progress has been made, and which issues have yet to be resolved. The public, for their consideration, also still receives updated numbers frequently via conference committee reports to track how money is being allocated and is permitted to attend these committees like with all other bills.

All issues not resolved by the committees become bumped to the overall Senate and House Appropriations Committee chairs, who make the final calls on the budget before laying it on the table. For 72-hours, the budget “cools off” to allow for public review before the chambers take their final vote and pass it along to the Governor, who’s line item-veto allows him to carve out specific appropriations at his sole discretion, that would need 2/3 of the legislature to vote to overturn. This happened as you may recall last year, when the Governor’s office vetoed funds essential to both chambers being able to operate, and was the first and only time the majority overturned the Governor.

Why the state civics lesson? Well, partially because all Floridians deserve to know how their money is being moved and spent, but also because in the wake of all the political drama surrounding the Governor’s final session and the approaching mid-terms, the budget process serves as the final place where the political rivalries of the session come due. With the line-item veto,the Governor may (and has historically) punish representatives who have opposed him through cuts to projects in their districts or counties. Things like arts, public works, public schools, and infrastructure funding are all fair game in the final tit for tat politics of the budget. As a result, we will be keeping a close eye on the budget process next week and advocating for workers, to ensure that you are informed and to make sure that working families don’t suffer at the hands of petty personal politics and egos.

🍊Florida Labor News

FEA Files Suit Against State Over School Funding

Educators made headlines again this week when the Florida Education Association (FEA) filed suit against the State of Florida over education funding. Following last week’s teacher misinformation rally and signing of the anti-worker SB 1296 on May Day of all days, our teachers have responded this week by going on the offensive.

As reported by WCTV’s Cody Butler, FEA President Andrew Spar:

pointed to several areas, including the money in the universal school choice program, with different transparency requirements. He said Florida ranked 41st on per-student spending and last in average teacher pay, forcing many to leave.

According to the lawsuit, approximately $5 billion a year of public tax dollars are taken away from public schools to charter and voucher systems. Nearly a quarter of the state’s education budget goes to voucher programs.

The FEA said Florida ranks 50th in the nation in average teacher salary, and over 60% of education staff professionals make less than $35,000 a year, forcing many to leave.

“That’s a disruption in learning. That’s way too common in the state of Florida. Too many students, hundreds of thousands are impacted by this constant churn and by the teacher and staff shortage,” Spar said.

The suit also reflects the ongoing resilience of our teachers and educators statewide who refuse to show fear or back down in the face of continued attacks by our legislature and state leaders. No matter the attempted spin by the Governor or Education Commissioner, the truth is in the facts, and the facts are clear: our educators deserve better!

✊Solidarity Spotlight

National Letter Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Arrives!

Though it’s been “On The Horizon” for the last several weeks, this Saturday marks the 2026 Annual National Association of Letter Carrier’s “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive! For over 30 years, letter carriers and NALC have proudly led what’s become the largest one-day food drive in America by heading out on their routes every second Saturday of May in order to collect donations of non-perishable food items to benefit local food pantries!

We are proud to support this amazing day every year and part of the achievement is in how easy it is for anyone to participate in! This Saturday, all you need to do to help is place a bag of nonperishable food next to your mailbox, where a letter carrier will come by and handle the rest! It is important to note though that NALC Branch and Post Office participation in the food drive is voluntary, so to ensure that your donation will be received you can contact your local post office or use this NALC branch lookup tool to make sure your home and mailbox are covered! If your home isn’t covered, you can also look up your nearest regional food drive to donate as well. All collections stay and contribute to your local community, so if you’re looking for an easy way to make a difference this weekend, we encourage you to participate and spread the word!

🗓️On the Horizon

  • Statewide
    • May 12th – May 29th: Budget Special Session “E”
      • As the legislature’s redistricting effort (and AI/Vaccine re-attempt) concluded earlier this week, the way is paved for the legislature to finally pass the only bill that they constitutionally must: the State Budget.
      • With a brief break before the Budget work begins, we will see what role the House speaker’s defiance against the governor has on redistricting negotiations with the executive and Florida Senate.
    • 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

🛠️Business Board

📸Bonus Bulletin – In Memoriam

This week, the FL AFL-CIO joins the Central Florida Labor Community in remembering the life of the beloved community fixture, brother William H. “Bill” Barnes, who passed away this week.

Bill began his union tenure as a stagehand at Walt Disney World before leading a life and career spanning decades and across venues such as on Broadway productions and Orlando’s famous Bobb Carr Theater, before turning to teaching at Jones High School. Within his IATSE Local 631, he was elected to a number of executive positions, most recently as their Secretary-Treasurer, and was known as a passionate advocate for working families and under-served communities wherever they could be found, as well as a humorist, with a love of puns, and Hawaiian shirts.

Bill is survived by his wife, Carol; his brother, Bradley, and a large extended family, who have asked that in lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory be made to The Orlando Pet Alliance and Shelter or online to IATSE mutual aid. We extend to his family our deepest condolences.

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

Florida Labor Letter – Legislative Mayhem & May Day (Week of 5/1)

Daniel Diaz |

Welcome to another edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly Florida Labor Letter for the week of 5/1. Starting off today’s issue by wishing you all a very happy May Day/International Worker’s Day from your FL AFL-CIO family. On this day we don’t just remember the legacy of worker pride and solidarity across history, we honor its continuation each day. A huge thanks and applause to each and every one of you who continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with us to take part in the forever fight for a better, more equitable quality of work and life for all of us.

With that, let’s get into the week’s news.

🏛️Legislative News

A Quick & Dirty 48-hour Redistricting Effort

As we stated in our Labor Letter last week, this week’s Special Session “D” on Redistricting was sure to be a dramatic one, with the Senate and Governor putting forward schedules and the new additions of AI and “Vaccine Freedom” on the agenda, all with a Florida House completely quiet on the other side of the Capitol and no maps even being presented.

That silence was broken on Monday, when newly drawn congressional maps were presented first not to the legislature, but Fox News, where despite the Florida Voter approved Fair District Amendment explicitly banning gerrymandering for partisan gain, the maps were spun as a net gain of 4 GOP congressional leaning districts for the upcoming mid-terms, colored in red and blue.

After that, the drama continued to unfold, as following the legislature’s receiving of the maps , the formerly silent Florida House was convened ahead of the Senate, where House Speaker Daniel Perez announced that while they were going to take up and present the GOP’s maps for consideration the next day, they would be refusing to take back up the AI Bill of Rights and Medical Freedom bills that were denied in the regular session and re-inserted into the special session by the Governor and Senate.

Drama unfolded quickly over the next 48 hours in an almost countless number of unpredictable ways, whether from the Governor’s public critique of the House Speaker, retirement of Congressional Republican and critic/former architect of redistricting Dan Webster , the last minute arrival of the long awaited U.S Supreme Court Decision on Racial Gerrymandering Louisiana v. Callais– the basis for this special session, and even a bullhorn on the House Floor during voting!

With that much occurring in such a short time span, it could be easy to get lost in the noise and mayhem of redistricting. The Bottom Line/Key Takeaways are this:

In any scenario, this story is far from over, and while we hurtle towards COPE and the Mid-Terms, our finger is on the pulse of these maps and how they may be impacting candidates and races later this November.

🍊Florida Labor News

Florida Celebrates Organized Labor on May Day, Governor Targets It

While today is being celebrated across the world as a day to lift up and honor worker’s role in society, our esteemed Governor instead took the opportunity of International Worker’s Day to put his signature to the billionaire backed attack on our public sector workers that is SB 1296.

Readers and 2026 Working Family Lobby Corps members may remember this nefarious bill from earlier this year during the recent 2026 Legislative Session. The subject of intense and continual scrutiny in the face of postponements, embarrassing bill testimonies, misinformation campaigns against teachers, and backdoor dealings lying to members and the public in order to get it across the finish line, SB 1296 finally arrived across the governor’s desk yesterday and was quickly whisked to a press conference in Fort Myers this morning. There, the Governor, Education Commissioner, and bill sponsors open faced admitted the bill’s true intention to bust our teacher’s unions, spread misinformation against our educators, and ignored any mention of the bill’s widespread impact across all of our public sector workforce.

You can read our official statement in response below:

Meanwhile, Florida’s working families remain strong this May Day, and have been active across the state showing out for the legacy and future of organized labor! Remember that the celebrations and events do not conclude today either, and that you can visit our May Day in Florida Page or visit Mobilize to see some of the weekend’s solidarity events taking place.

✊Solidarity Spotlight

UPDATE: USF Labor Community Ramps Up Actions vs. SSC Services

You might recall from last week, we highlighted a story of the USF Workers seeking solidarity in their efforts to fight for fairer wages and improved benefits in the face of an increasingly distant and unresponsive management. This week, those same workers of SEIU 32BJ ramped up their efforts, protesting on Wednesday and increasing coverage of their fight across Tampa, and forcing a response from management company SSC Services. SSC said they aim to “…continue discussions through the established bargaining process and remain committed to negotiating in good faith with the Union to reach an agreement that is fair to all.” but union members say if such negotations do not materialize, they will consider bigger, bolder actions. We stand in solidarity with their efforts and hope for a favorable resolution for these critical workers at USF!

Orange County Unions Team Up for Huge Town Hall, Kick off May Day, and More!

This week, our unions have been active in getting in the spirit of Solidarity, and we wanted to highlight some of the great actions put together by our folks in and around our Central Florida AFL-CIO such as Unite Here Locals 727 and 326, and the Orange County Classroom Teacher’s Association. This week they gave voice to a number of issues, hosting a collaborative townhall with over 180 members of the community to speak out on rising costs of living, canvassing operations, ongoing property tax lawsuits against Disney, and more! You are encouraged to check out their great work here! Photo credits to UNITE HERE! Local 362 Facebook

🗓️On the Horizon

  • Statewide
    • (!!NEW!!) May 12th – May 29th: Budget Special Session “E”
      • As the legislature’s redistricting effort (and AI/Vaccine re-attempt) concluded earlier this week, the way is paved for the legislature to finally pass the only bill that they constitutionally must: the State Budget.
      • With a brief break before the Budget work begins, we will see what role the House speaker’s defiance against the governor has on redistricting negotiations with the executive and Florida Senate.
    • 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
    • May 1st – 2nd International Worker’s Day / May Day Celebrations
      • 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 or on our May Day Central Hub!
    • 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

Graduation Weekend features another FSU Alum turned House Speaker

Though we aren’t biased towards any one of our Florida Universities, it’s undeniable in Tallahassee to ignore the scores of people arriving in town this week to gather for graduations at Florida State, FAMU, and TSC. This weekend though, an unusual appearance will be made at FSU by none other than House Speaker Daniel Perez himself, marking another notable appearance of a Florida State Alumni turned House Speaker, after former university president John Thrasher. While we don’t have any immediate staff attending graduation this semester (that might have to wait until Summer), we can only ponder what the Perez might advise to the future graduates of tomorrow…How to run a branch of government, or stop one?

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

Florida Labor Letter – Session(s) & May Day on the Horizon (Week of 4/24)

Daniel Diaz |

Welcome to another edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly Florida Labor Letter for the week of 4/24. This week we are happy to bring you some solid news about the direction of our perpetually extended legislative session. Also, get ready for May Day and Worker’s Memorial Day with us!

🏛️Legislative News

Special Session “D” Approaches with Redistricting in the National Spotlight

There are only so many days on the calendar before you can’t push back the inevitable any further! After delaying and expanding the special session on redistricting as reported in last week’s Labor Letter, Senate President Albritton announced some clarity today on what we can expect next week to look like in the Florida Capitol (at least on one side of the building), alongside the filing of 3/4 of the necessary bills.

  • SB 2D – Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights by Senator Brodeur (Formerly SB 482 by Senator Leek)
    • Identical to SB 482 that passed and died in messages during regular session, this bill has our cautious support as a good first step towards protecting consumers and children against artificial intelligence. Still, the bill continues to lack any provisions protecting workers from the growing threat of AI and how it may displace jobs and more.
  • SB 4D – Public Records/Investigations by the Department of Legal Affairs by Senator Brodeur (Formerly SB 7030 by Senator Leek)
    • Identical to SB 7030 that passed and died in messages during regular session, this public records exemption companion to the AI Bill of Rights seeks to make private the details and proprietary information in cases investigated for violations of The AI Bill of Rights.
  • SB 6D – Medical Freedom by Senator Yarborough (Formerly SB 6D)
    • Identical to SB 1756 that passed and died in messages during regular session, we continue to be fiercely opposed to this measure and the risk it poses to public safety by weakening immunization requirements in school and its shift of state policy away from evidence backed treatment across all of our workplaces and our schools.

Meanwhile, the Florida House has continued to refrain from commenting on the session its set to appear at only 4 days from now. At the time of writing, the House Speaker has not distributed any materials to members the Senate or its own plans for next week. We don’t know for certain if we will see a concurrence or rebuttal this time, but as mentioned above, all three of the revived bills being considered next week were not just rejected by the House during this past session, but were never even taken up in committee.

Wait, what about the Redistricting? Keen eyes will note that SB 8D – Governor’s Mystery Redistricting Map by Senator Gaetz remains un-filed at the time of writing. Originally the principal reason for reconvening back when the Governor called for this special session back in January, the picture around redistricting in Florida has gotten a lot more distorted since then.

Following Virginian’s approval this week of a Democratic Party favored state gerrymander in the national back and forth game of gerrymandering before the mid-term elections, National Republicans seeking to preserve a lead in favored congressional districts have set a new pressure upon Florida legislators, now the last state to seek a mid-decade redistricting. We encourage you to read a more thorough deep dive on the different attitudes and issues surrounding redistricting politics in this Politico’s write-up this week, but here are the fast facts to keep in mind as we approach Florida’s attempt are this:

Though we can anticipate the governor’s office is hard at work attempting to skirt the inevitable scrutiny and lawsuits to follow its maps, as happened in 2022, we will just have to wait and see next week for what the legislature does in response.

2026 State Budget Finally has a Calendar Date

In addition to getting some clarity on next week’s agenda, news was announced that the House and Senate have finally agreed on the general revenue allocations of the state budget, coming in at just shy of $52 Billion dollars across the state’s many programs. For the less fiscally nerdy (like myself), these allocations are essentially the framework that the rest of the state budget will be negotiated and built upon. Alongside the agreement came official word from the Senate that the rest of the Budget will be addressed and finished during Special Session “E” beginning Tuesday, May 12, and concluding on Friday, May 29. Though originally due last month as the only bill the legislature must pass, state workers, researchers, and more can breathe a sigh of relief this week as the prospect of a state government shutdown seems averted for now.

🍊Florida Labor News

May Day & Workers Memorial Day Florida Hub

As you may have seen from our labor siblings nationally, May Day 2026 fast approaches next week! Since its inception, May 1st, also known as International Worker’s Day, Labor Day, or May Day, has represented a an opportunity to celebrate the solidarity of all working people, acknowledging that no matter where we were born, where we live, or what kind of work we do, we all deserve to have safe working conditions, dignity in our workplace, a fair and living wage, and the ability go home safely to our families at the end of the day.

Earlier that same week on April 28th is Worker’s Memorial Day, in which solidarity and remembrance is shown for the many treasured lives lost, disabled, or injured in or because of the workplace, highlighting the need for continued workplace reform and a shared promise to remember the dead, and fight for the living.

While we love to regularly feature actions by our labor family via our solidarity spotlight and On the Horizon sections, a day widely celebrated as this deserves its own special place. While the National has set up a great Mobilize tracker for events going on statewide, as your State Fed, we wanted to provide you with something more Florida Specific. That is why we have launched a FL AFL-CIO May Day and Worker’s Memorial Day Page on our website. Organized by region, you can use this page to find a list of activities, actions, and events taking place all throughout next week, no matter what part of the state you are in.

NOTE: This page is non-exhaustive and will be updated regularly as more events are organized and found! If you see something you would like to add to it, email us at info@flaflcio.org!

✊Solidarity Spotlight

USF Labor Community Seeks Solidarity to Stand with the Contract Workers Who Keep it Running!

One of the many unions to fall victim to the 2023 Legislature’s union busting SB 256, workers in the University of South Florida community rallied with SEIU 32BJ to re-unionize and gain back valuable representation for their workplace. Now those same workers are facing an increasingly unresponsive and distanced management, who are attempting to cut benefits once promised to stay the same and give meager raises outpaced by inflation. In order to get management back to the table and hold them accountable, the workers are calling on the university and labor communities to show support for them and these workers demands. You can sign their petition by scanning the QR code or visiting this link for further details on the action.

🗓️On the Horizon

  • Statewide
    • NEW DATES: April 28th – May 1st: Expanded Special Session
      • As discussed at length in this issue, there’s a lot to look forward to next week. Even with the Senate’s enthusiasm and Governor’s big asks, a lack of hard enthusiasm by the House will see if the appetite for this issue even pans out as the U.S Supreme Court continues its silence on its final decision in Louisiana v. Callais, the case that could give a slim opening to GOP efforts to avoid violating the Fair Districts Amendment.
    • 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 or on our May Day Central Hub!
      • 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: Dog-gone work to be done

This week’s bonus bulletin goes out to Andy, the friendly English Sheepdog who paid the state fed a visit this week and kept us plenty company with his stretches, office inspections, and yelling at the mailman. Thanks Andy!

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

Please email Daniel Diaz at ddiaz@flaflcio.org

May Day & Worker’s Memorial Day 2026: Show Solidarity in our Sunshine State!

Staff |

Since its inception, May 1st, also known as International Worker’s Day, Labor Day, or May Day, has represented a an opportunity to celebrate the solidarity of all working people, acknowledging that no matter where we were born, where we live, or what kind of work we do, we all deserve to have safe working conditions, fair treatment, a fair and living wage, and to go home safely to our families at the end of the day.

Immediately preceding this show of solidarity, organized labor across the world remembers April 28th as Workers’ Memorial Day, in which solidarity and remembrance is shown for the many treasured lives lost, disabled, or injured in or because of the workplace, highlighting the need for continued workplace reform and a shared promise to remember the dead, and fight for the living.

This year, as the AFL-CIO celebrates these historic holidays nationwide, the state federation wanted to put together an easy to use hub to stay tuned to the latest labor actions, events, and more taking place in Florida across. Please see below for a list of events going on by region in recognition of these historic days.

NOTE: The following list does not represent the totality of labor and solidarity actions taking place this week and is updated frequently.

Have suggestions or additions? Please email info@flaflcio.org with your event details. Other useful platforms for finding and organizing events this week/weekend include Mobilize.us and maydaystrong.org.

North Florida

Central Florida

South Florida

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

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

Florida Labor Letter – What a Field Day for the Heat! (Week of 4/2)

Daniel Diaz |

Welcome to another edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly Florida Labor Letter for the week of 4/2. Before we begin, wishing a happy and safe Easter and Passover holiday to all those practicing, and we extend the same well wishes for those looking forward to the weekend in general as well!

Rocket launches to the moon, war raging abroad inspires nationwide protest, Supreme Court hears case on Citizenship and Voting Rights are disputed in Florida courts. With headlines like these, you wouldn’t be alone in asking “what year is it?” Unfortunately, this letter comes to you after April Fools and this is in fact the present. As Buffalo Springfield timelessly sung “There’s something happening here, and what it is ain’t exactly clear.” Thankfully though, as much as we have seen the incredible persistence of issues and events from decades prior, so too have we seen the endurance and growth of the working class energy to protest and fight for a better future. Let’s get into how that fight takes shape and more below.

🏛️Legislative News: The Wait Continues

The Finish Line Stays Blurry

As has been the routine the last several weeks, the sunshine state’s elected leaders continue to keep the public in the dark as to when they plan to finally reconvene and address the outstanding issues not dealt with this session, such as funding the state, attempting to repeal property tax, and redistricting. This week none of that got much clearer. Instead, we saw weird developments like a house majority member breaking off to push his own property tax campaign, and the Governor at The Villages assuring concerned citizens by stating “hopefully, by the end of April, all the work that the public expects from them will have been completed.” With such inspiring words like that, how could you not be at ease?

Jokes aside, the soonest concrete date we can expect any new information from the Legislature continues to be April 20th, when members are set to reconvene for a special session on the matter of mid-decade redistricting in an attempt to stave off the fury of frustrated and angry voters in November. However after last week’s election results and continued silence from the U.S Supreme Court on a Louisiana case that inspired the special session, even that goal hangs in the balance as the state continues to grapple with the reality that party lines aside: no one is happy with how little has gotten done for working families this past session.

FL SAVE Act Passes… Straight Into Court

As is standard operating procedure for our Governor after sessions conclude (or pause in this case), the executive has been making grand occasion of what little the legislature actually passed with weekly press conferences and signings across the state. This week, he took the tour to Tampa, where he proudly signed the nefarious Florida version of the Federal SAVE Act, which finds itself stalled in the United States Senate. Both bills seek to impose new and burdensome rules on any citizen’s ability to vote, (such as having to re-prove your citizenship) while also raising the standard of proof to be able to meet them such as having to track down your original birth certificate (no matter the situation) or get a passport.

Despite the many issues with the bill and the continued lack of federal appetite in the face of overwhelming opposition by national civil and voting rights groups, Florida’s version weaseled its way through this past session. Floridian’s don’t take such moves lightly though, and as soon as it was signed, the bill was quickly jettisoned into court on the same grounds, where it awaits lengthy adjudication and trial by partners such as the League of Women Voters of Florida, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Common Cause, and more. We’ll keep you updated of any new developments on this case as it moves along and stand proudly in opposition of this attack on Floridian’s ability to hold their elected officials accountable.

🍊Florida Labor News

FL AFL-CIO Welcomes New Central Florida Field Rep: Trevor Sweet!

As you may know, the Florida AFL-CIO has been hard at work securing and training a new qualified and passionate Field Representative for our CLCs in Central Florida following the promotion of prior Field Rep William “Billy” Lawson to his current post as Executive Assistant to the FL AFL-CIO President under President Holdridge! We are happy to finally introduce to you to your New FL AFL-CIO Field Representative for Zone 2, Brother Trevor Sweet!

Trevor joins the FL AFL-CIO family bringing a huge amount of passion and breadth of organizing and labor experience. In his words:

“I was born in Miami and moved to Orlando for both work and school. Disney was my first job and first experience being a part of a union. My organizing experience comes from my time with the Democratic Socialist of America. I’ve had the pleasure of walking picket lines, canvassing, and campaigning for our local unions. In this new role I’m glad I’ll be able to dedicate more time to fight for workers everywhere and build a better world for all of us.“

We are so excited to have Trevor join us, so please welcome him to the team and make sure to say hello wherever you may see him whether at your next Central FL CLC meeting, out on the picket line, or at our COPE Convention later this year!

No King’s Mini-Recap

This last weekend, Floridians everywhere joined millions of workers, activists, and passionate citizens nationwide in participating in the third No King’s Protest and single largest demonstration in U.S History! We lined the capitol, streets, downtowns, and more to protest growing federal abuses of power and authoritarianism, declaring that Florida and these United States will never welcome wannabe kings! ICYMI: You can check out some of the many great photos taken over the weekend in our Facebook post recapping the event.

✊Solidarity Spotlight

South Florida Teamsters Authorize Strike!

Per the International Teamsters:

Workers at UNFI’s Pompano Beach facility voted to join the Teamsters last year to secure higher wages, stronger benefits, and safer working conditions. Since 2022, more than 3,500 UNFI workers have joined the Teamsters, growing the union’s footprint to more than 5,500 members at the company nationwide.

“These workers exercised their legal right to form a union, and UNFI’s attempts to slow walk that process won’t be tolerated,” said Josh Zivalich, President of Local 769. “Management needs to get serious, stop breaking the law, and put a real contract on the table — or they’ll be dealing with the ramifications of a strike.”

We stand in solidarity with our Teamsters brothers and sisters in South Florida fighting for a fair labor contract with UNFI.

🗓️On the Horizon

  • Legislative
    • 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.
  • Nationwide

🛠️Business Board

📸Bonus Bulletin: We Choose to Return to the Moon

(Photo Credits: u/GimmeStarship from the /r/ArtemisProgram subreddit)

Aside from all the noise on the ground, Americans across Florida gathered on Wednesday to look up and see the official liftoff of Artemis II, man’s first lunar expedition to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, from Cape Canaveral. Artemis will be flying by the Moon to collect data and return back to the blue planet over the course of 10 days in order to pave the way for future missions to return to the lunar surface and with any luck, the stars.

Reflecting on a rare view of Earth from space, we leave you this week with the words of Astronomer Carl Sagan:

“It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.”

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

Florida Labor Letter – Elections, Actions, and More (Week of 3/27)

Daniel Diaz |

Welcome to another edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly Florida Labor Letter for the week of 3/27!

🏛️Legislative Session: A Recap

It has officially been 2 weeks since the Florida Legislature’s unofficial “Sine Die,” and on brand with the session that it (partially) ended, many are still asking when the most important issues forecast for session (like the budget) are going to be addressed. As we wait for clarity from lawmakers on their next steps, we thought it a good time to take advantage of the temporary quiet to look back on the 2026 session at large through the lens of its most important participants- YOU! With so much powerful testimony given and actions taken over the 9 weeks, please enjoy this recap of what that experience was like as told by our Working Family Lobby Corps. Special thanks to Silver Digital Media for partnering with us this session and helping gather footage and edit together videos like this behind the scenes!

Reflecting on The Past and Future of Florida’s Unions

This past week, the FL AFL‑CIO’s own Director of Politics and Public Policy Dr. Rich Templin joined Senior Statehouse Reporter Dara Kam of State Affairs Florida for an episode of her podcast, Between the Lines, which features in-depth interviews with leaders and lawmakers across Florida’s political scene, including figures like Senator Rick Scott, Congresswoman Debbie-Wasserman-Schulz, and former State House Speaker Paul Renner. This week Dara brought Rich on her latest episode to shift the discussion to Florida’s working class unions and what this session (and the past quarter century of them) have meant for Florida workers, as lived through by one of Florida Labor’s most experienced and steadfast advocates. You can listen to the podcast on the State Affairs Podcast Website, as well as Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

🍊Florida Labor News /Solidarity Spotlight ✊

Labor Wins Big Across Florida Elections!

In perhaps the biggest story this week, two Special Elections in Florida made national headlines when Florida’s State House District 87 and State Senate District 14 flipped from majority control in favor of two blue pro-labor and Florida AFL-CIO endorsed candidates! The seats were most recently occupied by State Rep. Mike Caruso (R) and now Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins (R) respectively, who had previously won in 2024 and 2022 with decisive leads.

This Tuesday though, despite the odds, Floridians bore witness to a remarkable electoral upset when Palm Beach’s Emily Gregory (D) took the lead and won the race for HD 87, flipping control of the legislative district most famous for including the Mar-a-Lago home of President Donald Trump. Gregory’s win was guaranteed by just shy of 800 votes, a lead in part provided by the hard work of workers and activists in our Palm Beach/Treasure Coast CLC, who drove action and turnout on her commitment to fight for the issues most important for working families!

Meanwhile, over in Tampa, another surprise upset emerged in the race of for Senate District 14, where IBEW Local 915 Brother and Former West Central Florida Labor Council Vice President Brian Nathan (D) achieved victory in the race against Former House Rep. Josie Tomkow (R). SD 14 was won by another tight margin of 408 votes, demonstrating the critical role that every vote plays in our elections and the importance of turnout come time to face the ballot box. ICYMI: Watch the reaction from FL AFL-CIO President Holdridge on our Facebook.

While politicos nationwide analyze these two upsets for their political implications come November, we recognize and want to lift up the under-reported role of all those involved in achieving these hard fought victories. We extend our biggest congratulations and thanks to the countless activists, campaigners, and laborers in both Palm Beach/Treasure Coast and West Central Florida as well as those on the Gregory and Nathan Campaign for their big win, and thank both for showing that when it comes to what really matters to Floridians, its the campaigns and candidates that speak to the experiences and issues of the working class that ultimately prevail. Union Strong!

🗓️On the Horizon

Nationwide: “No King’s” Returns

This Saturday, March 28th, the nation at large will be rallying across the 50 states to join in solidarity, protest, and opposition to growing trends of authoritarianism and tyranny in the United States Government. The message of the people is clear and is one that dates back to the nation’s founding: There shall be no kings in America!

Florida will be an active participant in the fight, with protests taking place statewide. In the effort to stand up for Democracy and against growing authoritarianism, where will you be? You can find and join your nearest No King’s Protest action with the interactive map at https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/map/

🛠️Business Board

📸Bonus Bulletin : No King’s October 2025

Turnout at No King’s in Last October was hailed nationwide as the largest single day protest in U.S History. Will this weekend’s top that feat? Stay tuned… Until next week!

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

Please email Daniel Diaz at ddiaz@flaflcio.org

2026 Sine Die Legislative Brief

Daniel Diaz |

A Note on a Session Unlike Any Other

Welcome to your 2026 Sine Die Legislative Brief, where we take a look at the full list of issues working families have been tracking throughout the regular legislative session and report on their final passage (or failure) as the legislature reaches its scheduled finish line of Sine Die.

The 2026 Legislative Session, as we have been navigating with our Working Family Lobby Corps and documenting throughout our Florida Labor Letters, has been uniquely unproductive. In the face of unwavering personal egos and internal divides within the super-majority, a significant number of bills and issues have fallen by the wayside, passing one chamber and not getting a hearing in the other, or never seeing the light of committee at all. Not even the nonpartisan issues have been spared. At the time of writing this piece, the legislature still has yet to even agree on the direction of the only bill they must pass, the General Appropriations Act, or Budget that funds the State of Florida. The result has been weeks of non-stop surprises, unknowns, and last ditch attempts by the interests and advocates both in (and out) of Tallahassee.

Laudably, your Working Family Lobby Corps has been active and responsive from the beginning, taking the reigns from Day 1 to steer a listless legislative leadership towards the policies that matter most to us, and away from the ones that should have never been filed in the first place. We are proud of all of the members of our 2026 Lobby Corps have done over the last 9 weeks, and want to thank all of you for your early mornings, late nights, meetings with your legislators, public comment in committee, and advocacy actions, whether here or back home, to stand in solidarity in pursuit of a better future.

The Brief

So how did it all shake out? Well, as the regular session winds down, The Florida Legislature leaves the Capitol today with explicit intent to return to finish their budgetary duties in Early April, followed by planned Special Sessions narrowly focused on Redistricting on April 20th, and Property Taxes at an unannounced date. Otherwise, all bills that have not passed after today are considered dead.

The following is a quick look at some of the bills that we have been tracking throughout the 2026 Florida Legislative Session and their final status. The list is neither exclusive nor exhaustive but represents some of our top priorities tracked week to week.

Property Tax

(OPPOSED) HJR 203 – Phased Elimination of Non-School Property Tax —-> FAILED
The only bill to materialize any momentum out of the year-long effort by lawmakers to wrestle with the question of Property Tax Relief (and ignore the question of rising homeowner’s insurance.) This bill, would’ve removed all non-school property taxes from local governments and offered no means to make up the lost revenue. The measure would’ve devastated local governments and their public services, and somehow made it out of the House, where it was then promptly declared dead on arrival by the Governor and Senate, who were eager to criticize the measure, but unsurprisingly presented no counter of their own. Instead, they pledged to take up the issue again in a future Special Session. When? Who knows!

Attacks on Collective Bargaining

(OPPOSED) SB 1236/HB 1387 – Weaponization of Government Funding —-> FAILED
This attack on our private sector siblings would have made it illegal for any entity receiving public funds to do business with a union (or contractor using union work) that was recognized by voluntary card check. This hypocritical attempt at government overreach in the “Free” state of Florida was killed in the Senate by the pointed, passionate testimony and hard work of working families, ensuring that even if the House version made it out of the limbo it’s been stuck in since February, it had no chance of survival.

(OPPOSED) SB 1296/HB 995 – Attacks on Public Sector Unions & Increased PERC Control —-> PASSED
This attack on our public sector builds on the work started by SB 256 and attempts to snuff out the unions that have persevered since then. The bill further expands registration and renewal requirements for unions, including more reporting, higher membership thresholds, and the possibility of decertification if membership in a bargaining unit falls below 60 percent. The blatantly unconstitutional bill was defeated early on in the Senate, but was revived by efforts of the Governor and Commissioner of Education, whose backdoor deals and public smear campaign against our teachers pressured it out of a hesitant Senate into the hands of the House, where it was voted up and sent to the Governor.

(OPPOSED) SB 1298/HB 998 – Public Record Exemption for Attacks On Our Public Sector —-> FAILED
These shadowy companion bills to SB 1296/HB 995 would have created new public records exemptions hiding the work of the Public Employee Relations Commission and decision makers who would institute the new restrictions. Thanks to the efforts of Working Families and significant public and political pressure on their companion bills, these bills began to be left by the wayside, where they died as the clock ran out.

Other Anti-Labor Efforts

(OPPOSED) SB 216/HB 191 – The Nail in the Coffin of Florida’s Unemployment Insurance —->FAILED
Already ranking 52nd in the nation, Florida’s unemployment insurance system required assistance, not further guardrails and heightened requirements as these bills sought to put in. Billed as combating (non-existent) fraud, the House version of this bill was sneakily passed in committee weeks last year. It was referred to the Senate, where Working Families spent weeks speaking against and pointing out the flaws in the bill and pressured the Senate bill to be left alone on the Senate Calendar, where it died. The House version, for its part, never made it out of Messages.

(OPPOSED) SB 1412/ HB 221 – Weakening Minimum Wage Rights —-> FAILED
These bills would have created a loophole in the state’s constitutional right to a living wage by allowing businesses to create a new class of “work study” positions billed as foot-in-the-door opportunities that would have required employees to waive their right to their state minimum wage and instead be paid at the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hr), a wage floor that has been untouched since 2009. The bill was quick to gain controversy and attention in the House early on, and it only took two committees for Working Families and the public at large to force this bill into being temporarily (and then permanently) postponed. The Senate version was never heard.

(OPPOSED) SB 1090/HB 1701 – Erosions to our Public Schools —->FAILED
This education omnibus bill would have, amongst a litany of other changes, further restricted collective bargaining for school personnel, mandated new ideological videos be shown on sex education, eliminated funding for DEI efforts, and allowed the Commissioner of Education more authority by having the ability to remove instructional material statewide. Though gaining momentum early on in session, this bill’s progress was stymied by its scope, breadth, and significant differences between the House and Senate versions, which alongside the opposition and advocacy of our teachers, led to loss of any appetite to take up the issue outside of the House. Regardless, we will be watching for some of this language in the upcoming budget.

Pro Labor Efforts

(SUPPORTED) SB 1112 / HB 1287 – Improving the Labor Pool Act —-> FAILED
This bill sought to amend the Florida Labor Pool Act (FLPA), which governs the temp agencies and labor pools that currently serve as a means for formerly incarcerated, seasonal, or other temporary workers to be able to find steady work. By requiring these labor pools to register with the Department of Commerce and removing their ability to charge exorbitant placement fees on businesses that sought to turn their temporary workers into permanent hires, this bill would make it easier for those employees to be able to find meaningful long term employment. The bill moved through and out of the entire Senate with unanimous support. Though the House did not take up the measure this session, its full passage by the upper chamber means this issue is far from dormant, and may return eagerly next session.

The Culture War and Other Issues

(OPPOSED) SB 430/ HB 147 – “Loyalty” Oaths for Teachers —-> FAILED
These attempts at intimidation and chilling free speech would have required school and higher education personnel to take oaths affirming support and loyalty to the federal and state constitutions and a commitment to professional ethics. It’s vague definitions of those terms though (alongside its Orwellian concept) led to both versions never getting heard in any of their committees.

(OPPOSED) SB 1632/HB 1471 – Ideologies Inconsistent With American Principles —-> PASSED
We didn’t come up with that title, that’s the actual bill’s name. An Orwellian measure that grants a politically appointed “Chief of Domestic Security” with the power to designate any organization they see fit as “Domestic Terrorists” was chillingly debuted in the shadow of national tragedy showing the ramifications that come with the misuse of that very term. With the criteria for such a designation being written in dangerously vague terms like “promote” or “support”, these measures have slowly marched forward in both chambers despite overwhelming public opposition and legal concern, with promise of legal challenges by civil rights groups should it get past the session finish line.

(OPPOSE) SB 1642/HB 641 – Don’t Say Gay or Trans at Work —->FAILED
These bills went far beyond the pronoun policing seen in previous culture war legislation, and instead sought to impose government control over free speech and activities in business and local governments all across Florida by dictating how those entities would be allowed to speak about, conduct events around, or train personnel on LGBTQ+ issues. Luckily, significant public exhaustion with (and opposition to) these issues, as well as their many free speech and federal law conflicts led the measure to lose momentum and die in House Messages and cease being heard in the Senate.

(OPPOSE) SB 1134/HB 1001 – Anti-DEI at the Local Level —-> PASSED
Instead of focusing on issues that help local government, the Legislature continued their attack on local autonomy with these bills that prohibit counties and municipalities from implementing, funding, or promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and end existing ones. The measures passed both chambers following extensive public opposition and lengthy chamber debate, where members criticized the bill’s vague terms and chilling effects on free speech and the ability of local governments to support historically marginalized voices in the community.

Elections Law

(OPPOSE) SB 1334/HB 991 – The (Florida) SAVE Act —-> PASSED
Modeled after the voter suppression legislation being pushed this year at the federal level, this bill attempts to disenfranchise large numbers of Florida voters by heightening requirements to be considered eligible to vote, including mandating ALL Florida voters re-verify their citizenship status while also making that process more difficult by changing currently acceptable forms of voter ID/proof of citizenship documents and instituting new, prohibitive costs to out-of-state students, persons with disabilities, married individuals, adopted citizens, and any Floridian seeking to hold their elected official accountable.

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