Florida Labor Letter – The Dog Days Approach (Week of 6/26)

Daniel Diaz |

Welcome to another edition of the Florida AFL-CIO’s weekly Florida Labor Letter for the week of 6/26. This week marks the final full one of June, and as July approaches, so too do the infamous “dog days of summer.” As we prep for the road to November, make sure that in between all of your hard work you stay hydrated and cool. The path to a brighter Florida requires solidarity AND sunscreen. All protected? Good, let’s get into the week’s news.

🏛️Legislative News

Governor DeSantis Receives the Budget for the Last Time

This Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis received his final slew of bills from the legislature, including the 2026 General Appropriations Act A.K.A The Budget. The bills also reflect the final slew of bills he may ever receive (knock on wood without another special session) from the legislature in his now 8 year long career as Florida’s Governor. With a career of backing some of the most restrictive and harmful anti-worker bills in Florida’s history such as 2023’s SB 256 and this year’s SB 1296, as well as a tenure dominated by culture wars, increasing school privatization, and personality politics, we hope that November’s elections signal the return of a more restrained and courteous politics, one that puts working families above corporations, rather than below them. Remember though: that outcome is going to be dependent on us, the voters!

As we have been making regular note throughout this year’s unusually slow budget process, you’ll remember that despite the legislature being done with the politics of this session, the governor and his line-item veto will ultimately get the final say on the funding that affects Florida’s working families. We can expect his office and staff to spend the next week or so carving out member projects of those opposite him and other spending areas that he deems unnecessary. Rest assured though, we will be watching this step closely to make sure further damage to key areas like education funding does not go unnoticed or unopposed.

🍊Florida Labor News

Endorsements Are Out, Labor 2026 is In!

Last week, we released our first batch of endorsements by the FL AFL-CIO for candidates and campaigns across the state. Coming out of COPE 2026, we emerged with our first slate of endorsements for statewide offices like the campaign of David Jolly and Gwen Graham, congressional seats like that belonging to friend of labor Representative Darren Soto and even races for our state legislature like our newly elected union member brother and defending incumbent, State Senator Brian Nathan! We are excited by what this field of races represents in the opportunity to not just take back Florida for working families, but build a brighter Florida for all of us.

To see the full list of affirmative endorsements as chosen by our delegates and COPE committee, you are encouraged to check out the full list of campaigns on our website under our endorsement press release.

For members seeking for a full list or outcomes of all considered seats and actions, you are encouraged to get in touch with your local CLC field staff for more information! Remember, the road to November is long, and as primaries resolve and campaigns develop, we’ll be sure to notify you of new endorsements and more as they arrive!

✊Solidarity Spotlight

FL AFL-CIO President Kim Holdridge Recognized in AFL-CIO’s Pride Month Profiles


President Holdridge, left, flanked by Secretary-Treasurer Maira Rivera at the recent FL AFL-CIO COPE Convention.

Credit to West Central FL’s Alec Wilcosky for the following write up on this special recognition!

For Pride Month this year, the National AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. This week, Tuesday, June 23rd featured the profile of President Kimberly Holdridge of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE):

Kimberly Holdridge serves proudly as the president of the Florida AFL-CIO. She has been an IATSE Local 631 organizer and leader in the labor movement for over 35 years following service in the U.S. Air Force. Within a state whose government continues to attack, minimize and restrict the freedoms of LGBTQIA+ individuals, Holdridge has remained undeterred and unabashed in her pride.

On behalf of the FL AFL-CIO family, thank you Kim for your leadership, and happy pride to all of those who have been celebrating love, in whatever form and shape it takes for you whether this month or all year!

🗓️On the Horizon

  • Statewide
    • Important Primary Election Dates!
      • Ahead of the general, Florida’s registered voters must first decide their candidates in the primaries.
        • NOTE: As a closed primary state, only registered partisans can vote in a party primary here in Florida.
        • NPAs should not count themselves down and out though, as they can participate in a number of races across the state involving primaries for non-partisan office such as school board officials and judges.
        • Every voter is encouraged to check with their local supervisor of elections to find out what races are happening near you to ensure you can make your voice heard.
      • Wherever you are on the aisle, you should know these important primary dates from the Division of Elections:
        • Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters: July 4, 2026
        • Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters: July 9 – 16, 2026
        • Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation: July 20, 2026
        • Deadline to request that ballot be mailed: August 6, 2026
        • Primary Early Voting (mandatory period): August 8 – 15, 2026
        • Primary Election Day: August 18, 2026
    • 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 AM EST, 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 invitation.

🛠️Business Board

  • P.O.W.E.R Trainings and Pledge: Labor 2026 represents not just a statewide, but national opportunity for change to build a better future for all of those in organized labor. To achieve victory, we’ll need as much help as we can get! Ahead of November, take the P.O.W.E.R pledge to:
    • Protect: Protecting the vote and ensuring every member can safely cast their ballot.
    • Organize: Organize new labor strongholds led by workers.
    • Win: Win crucial races that determine the future of workers’ rights.
    • Engage: Engage our baseline through authentic peer-to-peer contact.
    • Right Now: Mobilize Right Now. Action today creates victory tomorrow.

📸Bonus Bulletin

A Call To Action for Friendly and Furry Faces

Did you know that today was #TakeYourDogToWorkDay? What better time to kick off the dog days then with dogs themselves! Still, you’ve seen some of the furry friends marching ans sniffing around Tallahassee, and we want to see some of yours. We end this week putting out a call to you: Got a fluffy friend of labor of your own? Send us a photo at info@flaflcio.org and we may spread their kindness and solidarity statewide in our next newsletter!

Note: This call is not put out to just dogs. Our labor leadings Cats, Rodents, and Lizards are all welcome too!

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

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

Please email Daniel Diaz at ddiaz@flaflcio.org

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