Another election year means another COPE Convention! As the 2026 mid-terms fast approach, so does our excitement to gather and debate the best direction for Florida’s working families. Look forward to screening and endorsing candidates, debating issues, resolutions and more amongst your labor siblings statewide! Please read below for important information concerning COPE 2026.
COPE 2026 Dates and Location
The 2026 Florida AFL-CIO COPE Endorsing Convention will be held June 13-14, 2026, at the Hilton Buena Vista Palace Hotel located at 1900 E. Buena Vista Palace Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.
Convention Agenda
You can see the tentative program schedule for COPE 2026 below. Please email wlawson@flaflcio.org with any questions about programming.
Submitting Resolutions for Consideration
Resolutions to be considered at COPE 2026 must be received by the Secretary/Treasurer no later than 20 days prior to the Convention (May 23, 2026). Resolutions not received by this date may be considered upon a 2/3 vote of convention delegates, provided that there are sufficient copies to make one available to each delegate and a number has been assigned to the resolution by the Secretary/Treasurer of the Florida AFL‑CIO.
Registration and Booking Information for COPE 2026
IMPORTANT DEADLINE: The cut-off date for making your hotel reservations was Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
The Convention Call and Credentials, including the number of delegates your local is entitled to send to the event, will be forwarded to members soon. There will be several options for registering for the COPE Convention. These options will be listed on the delegate credentials.
The Hilton Buena Vista Palace Hotel has offered us a rate of $179.00 per night. To reserve your room, please call (407) 827-2727 and reference the Florida AFL-CIO COPE Endorsing Convention or enter the following link: https://book.passkey.com/e/51123670.
Future Conventions
Please note that following the conclusion of the 2026 COPE Convention, all future conventions will be held as a combined full session of both the Biennial and COPE Endorsing Convention. Starting in 2028, delegates will be able to convene to both elect new leadership and vote on endorsements, key issues, constitutional amendments at one unified event every two years. This move is expected to reduce staffing costs and produce significant savings for the FL AFL-CIO and our members, allowing us to better be able to allocate resources to do what we do best: fight for working families!
If you have any questions about the convention or your credentials, please contact your union leadership or reach out to the Office of the President by contacting Billy Lawson at wlawson@flaflcio.org
Please make every effort to attend and be a part of this year’s COPE Convention. We look forward to seeing you there and standing, as always- In Solidarity!