labor unions

Recent restrictions enacted by state government on union dues collections and certification votes have drawn the ire of organized labor organizations.

An administrative law judge Friday rejected a challenge by police and firefighter unions to the way the state is carrying out a new law that placed additional restrictions on unions representing government employees.

A Florida-based U.S. District judge has refused to put on hold a new law that removes the ability of some union members to automatically deduct their dues from their government paychecks. The case itself continues in the courts.

The law changes how most public employees pay union dues, while requiring that more members pay dues to keep unions alive.

The judge rejected a request from three South Florida municipal unions and three union members for a temporary injunction against a new law that bars payroll deductions for union dues.

Republicans had tried for years to pass what critics call a union-busting bill. The proposal builds on past efforts aimed at curbing public employee unions.

DeSantis also signed a bill that places an eight-year term limits for school board members.

A proposal to raise the membership threshold to 60% and prevent automatic withdrawals for union dues is moving in the legislature over accusations that it targets some of Republicans’ most vocal critics.

Rich Templin is the director of politics and public policy for Florida AFL-CIO.

Workers at the coffee emporium had voted 16-1 to unionize this past May.