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Republicans Again Tinkering With Union Membership, Dues

A large group of people assembled in front of a white, columned building with red and white banners on the windows
Kate Payne
/
WFSU News

Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, says he’s protecting Floridians right to work and collectively bargain, but Democrats and labor unions don’t agree. Plakon's proposal requires union members to confirm with their employers that they want dues deducted from their paychecks.

"This is a union-busting bill,” said Rep. Carlos Guillermo-Smith, D-Orlando.“It’s very overt. It’s very obvious.”

Plakon says his current bill is a response to unions pressuring people to sign up.

“We’ve heard anecdotal reports of social pressure to stay in the union and this will allow a private interaction between the employer and employee…they can, in the privacy of their own home, change that with a text message," he said.

The bill passed a House committee on a party-line vote Monday with Democrats opposing. It would affect teachers, law enforcement and other state workers. The Senate version of the bill has one more stop before reaching the chamber floor. Another proposal approved by the House committee targets teachers unions and prevents dues from being deducted from paychecks.

Florida lawmakers have, for years, approved measures aimed at curbing unions. A few years ago, the Republican-led legislature approved a law that would decertify unions if they fall under a certain level for membership.

Follow @HatterLynn

Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lynn has served as reporter/producer for WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas.  She is an award-winning member of the Capital Press Corps and has participated in the NPR Kaiser Health News Reporting Partnership and NPR Education Initiative. 

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