Welcome to the latest edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly e-newsletter: The Florida Labor Letter! Building on the good work that went into our prior E-messenger program, we hope to use this newsletter to provide you a weekly roundup of the latest and greatest from the Florida labor community, as well as keep you engaged with the latest events, resources, and actions taking place from across the Sunshine State and nation at large! As the 2026 Legislative Session rolls on, what better time to start getting involved than now? Without further ado, let’s get into this week:

🏛️Legislative Session: Week of 2/6

Week 4 was an impactful one in Tallahassee. As we near the midpoint of the legislative session, (when issues that want to go the distance usually must make an entrance by) we saw the deep-pocketed interests in the Florida Capitol push for the sudden re-introduction of anti-worker and culture war issues once thought dormant, and still deeply unpopular. Thankfully, your Working Family Lobby Corps was just as responsive, ensuring that none of these bill went through committee smooth sailing, educating lawmakers and highlighting serious flaws unforeseen to both bill sponsors and committee members. Let’s get into it:

• Don’t Say Gay – At Work (SB 1642 / HB 641)
  • Like Pennywise arisen from his long slumber, so too has the culture war returned to Tallahassee. Billed as the so called “Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act,” both of these unfriendly bills arrived in committees this week, and seek to impose unto all public sector workers the same free speech restrictions that 2023 legislation put upon school employees, that established they can’t ask students for their preferred pronouns and restricting school staff from sharing their pronouns with students if they “do not correspond” with their sex. In committee, supporters argued it’s a matter of preserving rights to personal beliefs, citing a former Miami-Dade city commission employee who was fired upon posting what he called simple “disagreement with gender ideology” and a refusal to attend anti-discrimination training. Working families and member of the public though made sure to reveal this wolf in sheep’s clothing message, with one legislator clarifying the true harmful language cited as “disagreement”, and reminding us that the dangers of this bill revolve not around personal consciousness, but the potential proliferation of harmful conduct and harassment in the workplace.
• The Nail in Florida’s Unemployment Insurance (SB 216)
  • Readers may recall that in Week 2 of session, we saw the introduction of this unfriendly bill, which adds impossible new hurdles, reporting requirements, and unreasonable job search mandates to those on hard times who seek to get any assistance from Florida’s already broken unemployment insurance system, which ranks dead last in the nation in terms of benefits, eligibility, payout, and length.
  • On Thursday, the bill reached its final Senate committee stop, where FL AFL-CIO Director of Politics and Public Policy Dr. Rich Templin gave important historical context and information that clarified that the only thing this bill does is ensure that those most in need of essential assistance are given impossible distance from getting it, especially in rural communities. Despite it’s final committee passage before the floor, enthusiasm for the bill noticeably dropped, with several members of the majority making clear in debate their concerns with the bill, and even declaring hesitancy for supporting its final passage out of the chamber in its current form. You can watch the full discussion on The Florida Channel
• Public Sector Union Busting (SB 1296/8 & HB 995/8)
  • Readers from last week remember the sudden appearance of this House Bill towards the end of week 3. This unfriendly and anti-labor bill builds on the nefarious work of 2023’s SB 256, seeking to close the few remaining avenues our public unions have been able to survive following its adoption. With new arbitrary bureaucratic hurdles on recertification and bans on advocacy, the bill also require all union elections to have over 50% of the entire workforce in the bargaining unit voting.
    • In the House, the bill appeared for its second committee stop this week in the House, where working families made clear to highlight the bill’s the compulsory negotiation timeline, its effect on teacher raises (and the incorrectness of talking points against our teacher’s unions), and 50% + 1 workforce requirement.
    • In the Senate, something surprising happened. Despite a surprise assignment for this past Monday, attendees of this week’s Governmental Oversight and Accountability committee discovered that in the Upper Chamber of the legislature, this deeply unpopular bill has remained just that, Temporarily Postponing the bill in its first stop. As both chambers are necessary for the bill’s ultimate passage, this stop marks a noteworthy change that threatens the bill’s survival and one that we are continuing to monitor.
• Private Sector Union Busting (SB 1236 & HB 1387)
  • Because evil never rests, our public sector brothers and sisters are not the only ones under attack by the billionaire interests this session. This unfriendly and anti-labor attacks the ability of our private sector brothers and sister’s ability to collectively bargain by removing the ability of any private employers and subcontractors that receive state money from engaging with unions or union work that is recognized through card check and bars them from entering a (voluntary) neutrality agreement. In both chamber committees this week, the bill’s broad scope led to working families from across the private and public sector highlighting the severe risks this poses to private industry work, eager to inform and fill in legislators as to the true intentions and impact behind a bill like this: to bust unions in the private sector. The testimony was unmissable by members, with legislators and both bill sponsors acknowledging and committing to further conversation from workers impacted. If evil never rests, neither do we.

🍊Florida Labor News

From FEA: A Closer Look at the Opportunities for Better Education in the Sunshine State

This week in the Orlando Sentinel, Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar wrote an extended piece on the many proactive and pro-teacher bills that are moving (or stalling) throughout the session so far and how they could transform not just the lives of educators, but also change the direction of the state’s education outcomes for the better. You can read the full piece here!

Organization and Negotiation Across The State

Though it’s easy to get lost in the session, we always want to remind you that unlike the 90-day legislative session, Florida’s unions are fighting and making progress for you year round, advocating for better pay, fair work conditions, and quality of life for working families- no matter the season or where you are located! Here are some small and always impactful examples:

From our family in West Central Florida:

This week, Creative Loafing reported on restaurant workers’ efforts to organize a union at several different establishments at Tampa International Airport. Workers at Hard Rock Cafe, Buddy Brew, Ulele, and Ducky’s all work for the airport contractor SPP America. UNITE HERE Local 362 represents SSP America restaurant workers at the Orlando Airport. These TPA workers are organizing to get similar benefits that Local 362 won in a recent contract. To start, Orlando SPP employees won a $19.30 per hour wage for bussers and cashiers. Servers currently make $14 per hour at TPA.

Meanwhile in Tallahassee (outside the Capitol):

As reported by WTXL Tallahassee, Leon County Schools and the Leon Classroom Teachers Association are heading back to the negotiating table to discuss teacher salaries, following a November impasse and invoking of third party review. With both sides displaying a willingness to good faith discussion, there is hope that a path forward can be made for teacher raises be made amidst city concerns about budget constraints and a county millage increase planned to help. You can see the full story here

✊Solidarity Spotlight

Action Update: SEIU/Unite Here, TPS Workers in South Florida receive temporary stay against expiration of Haitian TPS

Last Week, readers of our previous Labor Letter will recall that, in Fort Lauderdale, members of UNITE 355 and SEIU 32BJ helped mobilize an incredible coalition of airport, hotel and nursing home workers, community partners, local faith leaders, and elected officials to host a press conference and silent march to raise awareness and opposition of the soon to expire TPS status of the over 100,000 Haitians that are valuable members of South Florida’s community and even contribute billions to South Florida’s economy.

This Week, those same activists and community members, achieved a temporary victory as a result of U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ruling on Monday (2/2) to pause the Trump administration’s plan to end TPS for Haitians.

The ruling arrived just in time, one day before the TPS Protections were set to expire. Exploring her reasoning, WPLG Local 10 reported that:

Reyes pointed to the U.S. State Department’s Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory for Haiti. She wrote: “‘Do not travel to Haiti for any reason’ does not exactly scream, as Secretary Noem concluded, suitable for return.”

The ruling represents a temporary, but hard earned victory by the South Florida labor community and their organizing partners, reminding us the importance of and continued value in giving voice to the issues and how that visibility generates the conversations necessary to enact change. You can read more in the WPLG Local 10 Article here or this in-depth piece from the Miami Herald!

🗓️On the Horizon

• February 7th, 2026​ – Young Workers March on Washington!
  • The time to take action for the future is the present! This February, young workers from unions across the united states are meeting in Washington D.C to demand young workers are provided the same opportunities as their parents by raising our long out-dated Federal Minimum Wage, providing for more affordable housing, and more! Learn more about this day of action on the official website for Young Worker’s March!
• March 11 – 13th, 2026 – AFL-CIO Organizing Institute 3-Day Organizing Training in Austin, TX
  • The Texas AFL-CIO and the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute (OI) is welcoming any and all to their 3-Day Organizing Training. The deadline to register is February 18th, and interested parties can register your organizing teams at www.aflcio.org/OI.
  • Below is a brief preview of what to expect:
    • Day 1 – How to have the Right 1-on-1 Organizing Conversation;              
    • Day 2 – Recruiting and Developing Key Workplace Leaders;
    • Day 3 – How to Run Issue Campaigns to Build Momentum!  
• March 28th, 2026 – No King’s Protest!
  • Tallahassee was one of many participants in the recent January 24th “No Kings” protest that marked a year of continued resistance against the Trump Administration’s authoritarian policies. In the wake of the events in Minnesota, organizers are building towards a fourth series of protests in March. Those interested in participating can find out more here.

🛠️Business Board

• FREE Trainings from the National AFL-CIO: The National AFL-CIO provides free virtual training sessions leaders and members of all of its State Federations, Area Labor Federations, CLCs and Affiliates. This list of training courses is updated regularly and covers a myriad of topics such as honing political skills, issue specific communications, and more. This page is updated regularly, so please visit and bookmark this link to stay informed and learn more about what is currently available to sign-up for in order to take your labor skills and knowledge to the next level!

📸Bonus Bulletin

St. John’s County Day at the Capitol 🐊🦦

This week, North Florida made its voice heard in the Capitol Complex with St. John’s County Day on Thursday, which featured some of the county’s famous Gators, River Otters, Barbecue, and live Jazz! In case anyone was wondering, yes, you could in fact pet both animals, although the barbecue was better with a fork, and the Jazz best left untouched.

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

Please email Daniel Diaz at ddiaz@flaflcio.org

Welcome to another edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly Florida Labor Letter for the week of 1/30. As we reach our third week of the legislative session and a massive week of actions in Tallahassee and across the state, working families are relentlessly and impressively meeting the moment! We are so proud of the quick and powerful organizing being done by all members of the Florida Labor community this week, regardless of the issue. This work matters, and with so many news stories to cover this week, we are reminded of the great impact that such demonstrations bring in raising awareness and pushing the conversation for better lives and policies for all of us. Together, we are strong! Now, Let’s get into some of the stories!

🏛️Legislative Session: Week of 1/30

An amazing turnout met us for Week 3 of the Working Family Corps, and whether just in attendance in committee, or in powerful testimony, we saw incredible advocacy take place this week in Tallahassee, and even took away a surprising legislative victory in the universal committee passage of a pro-labor bill! Here’s a quick rundown of some of the issues:

• Improving the Labor Pool Act for Workers and Small Businesses (SB 1112)
  • Why not start off on a great note? This bill, sponsored in the by Republican Senator Ileana Garcia and House Rep. Kevin Chambliss seeks to amend the Florida Labor Pool Act. Florida’s labor pools currently serve an important role in providing temporary work for those in seasonal work, or those recently incarcerated who are trying to get a foot back in the labor market. However, with little current oversight, they have been free to run awry in the shade. This bill brings them into the sunshine, requiring them to register in a state database, and closes the loopholes that currently force a business wanting to take a great temporary worker and make them permanent to first fork over thousands first to the Labor Pools. In it’s first Committee this week, this friendly and proactive Florida labor bill and its coalition of supporters received unanimous and bipartisan praise from members before passing 9-0. (Man, those words are refreshing to read!)
• Weakening Minimum Wage Rights (HB 221)
  • We know better than to expect just roses from the Florida Legislature. This unfriendly bill seeks to create a new class of “work-based learning programs” that would require participants to waive their state constitutional right to an annually adjusted and fair minimum wage, instead paying them the federal minimum wage, which has been unacceptably fixed to $7.25 since 2009. Billed as for the small business or for burgeoning inexperienced workers, members of the WFLC and more were quick to remind legislators that such arguments simply fall flat in the face of the increased cost of living and daily wallet squeeze that motivated voters to raise their state minimum wage in the first place.
• Ideologies Inconsistent With American Principles (SB 1632/HB 1471)
  • Though the house version is more palatably billed as “System of Laws and Terrorist Organizations,” make no mistake: this bill is as bad as it sounds. Heard in Committee for the first time this week, this unfriendly and ominous bill creates a new and unelected position of “Chief of Domestic Security” who would have the ability to designate any organization a “domestic terrorism organization” that seeks to “coerce a civilian population” or “influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion.” The definitions of these terms are intentionally vague and—as public comment highlighted—its implications on chilling Freedom of Speech are dwarfed only by the bills inappropriate timing in the same week of the federal government’s flagrant misinformation and misuse of the same terminology.
• Attacks on Public Sector Workers – Collective Bargaining (HB 995)
  • In a surprise notice late this week, this unfriendly and anti-labor bill builds on the nefarious work of 2023’s SB 256, seeking to close the few remaining avenues unions have been able to survive following its adoption. With new arbitrary bureaucratic hurdles on recertification and bans on advocacy, the bill also require all union elections to have over 50% of the entire workforce in the bargaining unit voting. Backed by—and for—Billionaires, the WFLC was quick to mobilize against this bill in its first committee stop. Despite it’s passage, we are aggressively monitoring this union busting issue as it moves along in the session.

🍊Florida Labor News

This week communities across all of Florida rallied to mourn the unnecessarily and tragic loss of AFGE Union brother Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed at the hands of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement this past weekend in Minneapolis, MN. Whether in North Florida protesting at City Halls or in South Florida holding Vigils, Florida’s working families everywhere made clear that we stand in solidarity with the many Minnesotans who continue to protest and advocate against the federal government’s overreach and abuses of power taking place in their state at the hands of ICE. See some highlights below.

Central Florida members mourn Alex Pretti and tell Rep. Anna Paulina Luna to stop escalating tensions and to “Read The Room!“

Seen above: Karena Jimenez – National Nurses Organizing Committee/NNU, Alec Wilcosky – West Central FL AFL CIO, and Carol White – AFGE 547 speaking to the public.

Following the tragic and unnecessary murder of AFGE Brother and Nurse Alex Pretti at the hands of Immigrations and Custom Enforcement (ICE) last Saturday in Minneapolis, union members and working families across Florida joined to stand in solidarity and mourn in his loss. Meanwhile, Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna used the moment to further her political ambition, while claiming that those in mourning or critical of ice were breaking with reality and experiencing “pure cognitive dissonance.”

In response, Union members and constituents of Rep. Luna’s Congressional District 13 in Central Florida held a press conference on Thursday spotlighting the hypocrisy of such a statement, highlighting Luna’s voting record on DHS funding and her use of the immigration issue to instead advocate for her own voter suppression SAVE Act. You can watch the full event here as members gathered outside Rep. Luna’s Seminole, Fla office to call on her to read the room, stop fanning the flames with more incendiary rhetoric, and get to work on things that actually matter for her constituents.

AFGE Local 507 Hosts Vigil in West Palm Beach

Meanwhile, in South Florida, members of AFGE Local 507 organized over a hundred members and fellow community partners to gather for a memorial vigil for Alex Pretti, who was an intensive care unit nurse at a Veterans Administration hospital and a was a fellow member of the American Federation of Government Employees. They were joined by Florida Congresswoman Lois Frankel. You can read the and see the full coverage of their event here, courtesy ABC 25 WPBF News

✊Solidarity Spotlight

Even while standing in solidarity for a number of nationwide issues this week, working families in Florida still also found time to bring attention to the issues that are directly impacting them as Floridians as well!

SEIU/Unite Here, TPS Workers, and Congressional leaders join in Fort Lauderdale to call for extension of Haitian TPS

This Wednesday, UNITE 355 and SEIU 32BJ helped mobilize an incredible coalition of airport, hotel and nursing home workers, community partners, local faith leaders, and elected officials to host a press conference and silent march at Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) to demand that the Trump administration halt its cruel plan to end Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) before Feb. 3, 2026.

Per NBC 6 South Florida:

“Ending TPS will be devastating to so many families. We work extremely hard to welcome travelers arriving in South Florida. We will not stand by and watch our coworkers, friends, and neighbors be treated like animals. We are here to call for a permanent solution and an extension of TPS,” organizers said in a statement.

Per the Florida Immigrant Coalition, Haitan TPS Holders represent over 100,000 members of Florida’s workforce and contribute over billions to South Florida’s economy in housing values and state and local taxes. Their removal would not just be cruel, but also economically devastating to South Florida’s labor market. The organizers were supported in person by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, and you can read the full story of the event here!

🗓️On the Horizon

• February 7th, 2026​ – Young Workers March on Washington!
  • The time to take action for the future is the present! This February, young workers from unions across the united states are meeting in Washington D.C to demand young workers are provided the same opportunities as their parents by raising our long out-dated Federal Minimum Wage, providing for more affordable housing, and more! Learn more about this day of action on the official website for Young Worker’s March!
• March 28th, 2026 – No King’s Protest!
  • Tallahassee was one of many participants in the recent January 24th “No Kings” protest that marked a year of continued resistance against the Trump Administration’s authoritarian policies. In the wake of the events in Minnesota, organizers are building towards a fourth series of protests in March. Those interested in participating can find out more here.

Anything Else?

🛠️Business Board

• FREE Trainings from the National AFL-CIO: The National AFL-CIO provides free virtual training sessions leaders and members of all of its State Federations, Area Labor Federations, CLCs and Affiliates. This list of training courses is updated regularly and covers a myriad of topics such as honing political skills, issue specific communications, and more. This page is updated regularly, so please visit and bookmark this link to stay informed and learn more about what is currently available to sign-up for in order to take your labor skills and knowledge to the next level!

• Minnesota Action Fund: As mentioned, we are amplifying efforts to support our brothers and sisters in the state of Minnesota as they deal with ongoing federal immigration efforts. Able and willing Floridians can help with emergency legal funds and mutual aid for union members detained and sent to other states. As many find themselves without resources to return home even after proving their status, contributions can be made here.

📸Bonus Bulletin

With a fantastic turnout for Week 3 of Working Family Lobby Corps, we were glad to get no shortage of footage for the week’s “Solidarity in the Sunshine” segment of our legislative update videos! Here are some behind-the-scenes of members Michael Woods (Palm Beach County CTA) and Thomas Woods (Brevard Federation of Teachers) talking about their experience as direct legislative advocates for Florida’s working class! Stay tuned for the week 3 legislative update video dropping early next week, and ICYMI, make sure you caught up on the mechanical mayhem that happened in week 2!

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

Welcome to the new edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly e-newsletter: The Florida Labor Letter! Building on the good work that went into our prior E-messenger program, we hope to use this newsletter to provide you a weekly roundup of the latest and greatest from the Florida labor community, as well as keep you engaged with the latest events, resources, and actions taking place from across the Sunshine State and nation at large! As another week of the 2026 Legislative Session concludes, what better time to start getting involved than now? Without further ado, let’s get into it!

🏛️Legislative Session: Week of 1/22

Rural Counties Day At The Capitol rounded out the end of the 2nd week of the 2026 Working Family Lobby Corp! Besides the sweets, sauces, and shellfish on display in the Capitol Complex, your siblings in Tallahassee were hard at work throughout the week as they met with lawmakers and advocated in Committee on a host of issues including but not limited to:

• The AI Bill of R​​ights (SB 482)
  • ​Heard in committee for the first time this week, this friendly bill offers much in the way of consumer data protections, child protections and safeguards, and more related to AI use both in public and private life. Our public testimony was highlighted by the Florida Phoenix for its support of the bill that also emphasized that among the threats AI poses, the rights of workers, their jobs, and intellectual property should not be forgotten. Read the full story here!​
• Loyalty Oaths for Teachers (SB 430)
  • ​This disastrous bill would see all teachers and administrative personnel in the PreK-20 system forced to subscribe to a new vaguely worded oath affirming support to not just the constitution, but the state as well. Designed to create another level of intimidation and chilling speech across Florida’s already understaffed and overworked teaching population, this ​​unfriendly bill​​ found itself without the support necessary to be taken up in committee, Temporarily Postponing (TPing) the bill until further notice.​ This represents a great job in terms of informing our elected representatives of the truth behind these bad bills. We don’t take a victory for granted though, and will keep monitoring this and other issues as the session rolls on!​​
• The Nail in the Coffin of Florida’s Unemployment Insurance System (SB 1126)​
  • Backed by billionaire private interests, this ​unfriendly bill​​ would see the state’s already broken unemployment system somehow even ​more​ so​. Florida’s unemployment system currently offers the lowest benefits, most difficult eligibility, and smallest benefit payments that run out fastest among any in the union. By adding new hurdles, impossible reporting requirements, and unreasonable job search mandates, this bill see’s those most in need of essential assistance given impossible distance from getting it. This week though, critical testimony by the members of the Working Family Lobby Corps was cited by multiple members of the committee​ as proof positive that the only thing this bill is hurting is not fraud or bad actors, but human beings trying to get by.
• Property Taxes (Part Two!) (HJR 203)
  • More ​unfriendly​ property tax bills were heard this week, including the re-appearance of HJR 203, which gradually eradicates all non-school related property taxes across Florida’s counties, stripping them of critical funding as Florida’s revenue and tax structure finds itself overly reliant on existing property and sales tax for income. Members of the Working Families Lobby Corps and more made clear: Whether through loss of essential services like after-school care and infrastructure or increased sales taxes to compensate, these measures cost Floridians far more than they will ever save.

Note: For an in-depth look at the impactful work and words put together by this week’s Working Family Lobby Corps, stay tuned to our social media and more for our Legislative Updates videos! ICYMI: Here is Week 1’s!​

🍊Florida Labor News

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Just this past Monday, union members, activists, and citizens alike across the nation at large honored the life and legacy of the great civil rights and labor activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Across the entire state, Florida’s working families were happy to be a part of the celebration. Here are some moments (courtesy our North Florida Central Labor Council) captured by our siblings in Jacksonville of the big day!

Each and every day, we hope to carry forward the legacy of Dr. King Jr. by doing what he did best: educating, organizing, and fighting for a better more equal future for us all. We are proud of and thankful for the many of you who have made and continue to make that mission possible.

​​​In Solidarity With Minnesota

As the people of Minnesota join forces today to stand in solidarity on their Day of Truth and Freedom, we want to emphasize our support for our siblings in the Minnesota AFL-CIO and Minnesotans at large who are fighting for the pursuit of justice, due process, and fair treatment under the law. ICYMI: See the official statement from Florida AFL-CIO President Kimberly Holdridge below:

​

✊Solidarity Spotlight

AFGE Members Rally to Support Social Security Workers and Mission

Per ​WLRN:

“Social Security Administration workers and local seniors on Wednesday joined a national day of action in Broward County to demand that Congress address a mounting crisis of underfunding and staffing shortages at the federal agency that manages monthly payments and benefits to tens of millions of older Americans.”

​As congress rolls on towards its next funding deadline on ​January 30th, 2026​, Congressional members and agencies are negotiating avoid another partial government shutdown. We are proud of the proactive work being done by our siblings at AFGE Local 2014 and elsewhere in raising attention to the critical services and role that Social Security plays in the lives of so many working families. Read the full story of their efforts here, courtesy WLRN.​

​🗓️On the Horizon

• ​January 30th, 2026​ – Federal Government Funding Deadline
  • As we near the end of the month, congress must pass an appropriations bill to fund the rest of 2026 in order to avoid another lengthy and unnecessary government shutdown. Stay tuned for more news regarding this in the coming weeks as congressional action takes place!
• ​February 7th, 2026​ – Young Workers March on Washington!
  • The time to take action for the future is the present! This February, young workers from unions across the united states are meeting in Washington D.C to demand young workers are provided the same opportunities as their parents by raising our long out-dated Federal Minimum Wage, providing for more affordable housing, and more! Learn more about this day of action on the official website for Young Worker’s March!

🛠️Business Board

• FREE Trainings from the National AFL-CIO: The National AFL-CIO provides free virtual training sessions leaders and members of all of its State Federations, Area Labor Federations, CLCs and Affiliates. This list of training courses is updated regularly and covers a myriad of topics such as honing political skills, issue specific communications, and more. This page is updated regularly, so please visit and bookmark this link to stay informed and learn more about what is currently available to sign-up for in order to take your labor skills and knowledge to the next level!

• Minnesota Action Fund: As mentioned, we are amplifying efforts to support our brothers and sisters in the state of Minnesota as they deal with ongoing federal immigration efforts. Able and willing Floridians can help with emergency legal funds and mutual aid for union members detained and sent to other states. As many find themselves without resources to return home even after proving their status, contributions can be made here.

📸Bonus Bulletin

Happy Birthday Dr. Rich Templin!

Though he is not one to hunt for the spotlight, we would like to take this week’s bonus bulletin to highlight the birthday of the Florida AFL-CIO’s Director of Politics and Public Policy, Dr. Rich Templin!

All who have know or have met him in the Working Family Lobby Corps, FL AFL-CIO, and Florida Capitol at large know Rich to be a tireless advocate for working families and the labor movement of Florida and at large. Often found in public comment and in conversation with legislators, Rich is cited often by members of the legislature for his wit and the depth of knowledge that he brings to the political process when talking about Florida Labor’s most important issues. As an invaluable part of the FL AFL-CIO family, we thank him for all he has and continues to do on behalf of the good people of Florida. We were happy to celebrate his birthday this week with him as part of our Working Family Lobby Corps Social at Proof Brewing! Thank you Rich!

That wraps up our Labor Letter for the week! Stay tuned for next week’s issue as session rolls on!

In Solidarity!

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

Please email Daniel Diaz at ddiaz@flaflcio.org

Greetings Brothers, Sisters, and Kin!

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

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

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

Legislative Session 🏛️: Week of 1/16

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

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

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

Florida Labor News 🍊

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

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

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

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

NEW AFFILIATE: IATSE Local 305

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

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

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

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

Solidarity Spotlight ✊

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

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

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

On the Horizon ⏰🗓️

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

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

Business Board 🛠️

• FREE Trainings from the National AFL-CIO: The National AFL-CIO provides free virtual training sessions leaders and members of all of its State Federations, Area Labor Federations, CLCs and Affiliates. This list of training courses is updated regularly and covers a myriad of topics such as honing political skills, issue specific communications, and more. This page is updated regularly, so please visit and bookmark this link to stay informed and learn more about what is currently available to sign-up for to take your labor skills and knowledge to the next level!

Bonus Bulletin 🌅

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

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

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

Please email Daniel Diaz at ddiaz@flaflcio.org

With a long history of endorsing and fighting to pass bills during each session, we are now turning our attention to the ballot box. The Florida AFL-CIO has unanimously adopted a resolution proudly endorsing the Florida Decides Healthcare Ballot Initiative campaign

September 25th Disclaimer: The Florida Decides Healthcare Ballot Initiative has postponed their efforts until the 2028 General Election, citing petition roadblocks imposed by the passage of 2025 HB 1205. Our endorsement remains and is preserved in full below.

Most of us know that Trump’s Big B.S Bill will cut Medicaid and other healthcare spending for millions of Americans, especially for the elderly, children, and women. Unfortunately, based on current state programs and years of inaction by the Florida Legislature, our state and our people will be more negatively impacted than the rest of the country. Florida has long had some of the worst numbers in the nation for the number of children and the elderly who do not have full access to healthcare. Now, the situation is going to get worse.

Millions of Floridians are Losing Healthcare

Today, nearly 1.4 million Floridians are stuck in the Medicaid coverage gap — earning too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford insurance. The federal reconciliation law that passed this year in Washington still preserves the 90% federal match for to cover the costs for states that expand Medicaid, but it failed to extend enhancements to ACA tax subsidies for people accessing healthcare through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). This will dramatically drive-up ACA out of pocket premium costs, pushing millions more into this coverage gap.

Starting in January of 2026, when these tax credit enhancements expire, another 2.3 Floridians will lose their ACA coverage, meaning 3.7 million will fall into the Medicaid coverage gap. Florida will be hit harder than any other state by these changes. Tragically, experts predict 1 in 5 Floridians will be uninsured.

An Economic Crisis

Florida is already leaving over $4 billion in federal funds on the table every year. These are dollars Florida taxpayers have paid and should be coming to the state. Soon, that number will balloon to $10.5 billion annually because of the more than doubling of Floridians falling into the coverage gap. These tax dollars, collected from Floridians, will continue to help residents in New York and California— unless we take action. The loss of these funds threatens over 40,000 jobs.

Combine the threats to ACA premiums, the straight loss of Medicaid funds, over a decade of inaction of providing healthcare for children through state programs and we are looking at an upcoming healthcare disaster of epic proportions.

Everyone will be impacted

With millions losing health care coverage, more and more will get healthcare in the emergency rooms. This is the most expensive type of healthcare, and this drives up costs for every single Floridian. Experts are warning that the changes on the horizon will drive up healthcare premiums for everyone, including union members who have fought for employer sponsored group coverage at the bargaining table.

The Solution: Medicaid Expansion on the Ballot

One silver lining of Trump’s Big B.S Bill is that it maintained the federal Medicaid Expansion match (which brings fully twice as much into the state as the state spends.) This means that Medicaid Expansion is still the very best option to mitigate some of the damage on the horizon. There’s just one problem…the Florida legislature has repeatedly refused to do expand medicaid. Florida is just 1 of 10 states that has not updated its Medicaid eligibility requirements since 2013 because, since the days of Rick Scott—who plead the 5th over 75 times in the single biggest Medicare fraud cases in history—the Republican line has been “Medicaid expansion is Obamacare –> Obama is bad –> no to Medicaid expansion. For 15 years bills have been filed in Florida on Medicaid expansion, and there has never been a single hearing. Now, with these new threats on the move, it is time for the people to do it ourselves.

Medicaid Expansion Will:

• Provide Medicaid and healthcare services to 3.7 million Floridians, including parents of young children, women of childbearing age, part-time workers, seniors, caregivers, and people with chronic illnesses
• Save an estimated 7,000 lives a year, reduce maternal and infant mortality, improves breast cancer outcomes, and reduce opioid deaths
• Keep our $10.5 billion in federal taxes here at home
• Provide a huge boost to our economy by helping to attract and retain doctors and nurses
• Lowering costs for healthcare for all by promoting preventive care and reducing strain on emergency rooms
• Keep hospitals open, especially in rural communities where access to care is already limited

The Florida AFL-CIO Joins the Fight for Medicaid Expansion

Florida Decides Healthcare is a citizen’s initiative campaign to put Medicaid Expansion on the ballot as a Constitutional Amendment, and they are battling serious headwinds. For years, the Legislature has chipped away at the ability for Floridians to use the citizen’s initiative to make changes to the state constitution. They have made the process more and more difficult, stripping us of our constitutional right to direct democracy by a thousand paper cuts. In 2025, the Legislature passed the coup de grâce in the form of HB 1205. Wanting to finally make the initiative process impossible, the legislature imposed new onerous regulations, seemingly insurmountable processes and confusing procedures. But Florida Decides Healthcare is fighting on, and we are joining them.

With a long history of endorsing and fighting to pass bills during each session, we are now turning our attention to the ballot box. The Florida AFL-CIO unanimously adopted a resolution and is proud to fully endorse the Florida Decides Healthcare campaign. Working with a massive coalition of organizations, we are going to do everything we can to secure a victory. Let’s get ready to rumble!

In Solidarity