With eye on Wisconsin, Florida teachers gear up for rallies

[seafan]

Source: St. Petersburg Times

Opposition is heating up statewide as the Florida Legislature closes in on monumental changes to the teaching profession.
On popular blogs, some teachers are even pushing for Florida to follow Wisconsin, where tens of thousands of protesters have descended on the state Capitol.

If some of the current legislative proposals don't change, "Do I believe public employees will descend on Tallahassee? Yes," said Kim Black, president of the Pinellas teachers union. "It could be a hurricane, we just don't know what category yet. People are organizing."

.....

So far, legislation to curb collective bargaining rights has not surfaced in Florida. But in a 20-page list of proposals, Scott's education transition team recommended that teacher evaluations be removed from the bargaining process, and that bargaining be limited to salaries and benefits.

The Florida Constitution recognizes the right of employees to bargain collectively.

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article1152921.ece

---

According to the article, there are rallies planned for March 8, the opening day of the Legislative session, in support of teachers, firefighters and police officers.


We are about to witness the Gator Uprising.

[gateley]

1. WooHoo! Mad as Hell and not going to take it anymore!

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[seafan]

2. Here we go, Florida. Jeb Bush operative John Thrasher files bill to starve unions

Via Marc Caputo at Tampa Bay's The Buzz (with a HT to DUer Orlandodem)


FEBRUARY 21, 2011

Florida: Union dues in crosshairs of John Thrasher bill

Sen. John Thrasher, former state GOP chairman, looks like he has filed a bill (SB830) to starve unions like the Florida Education Association, SEIU, AFL-CIO, firefighters, police unions or AFSCME by banning the Democratic-leaning organizations from using salary deductions for political purposes. The legislation also says any "public employer may not deduct or collect" union dues, etc. Lastly, it says that any public employee who didn't specifically authorize the use of his money could be entitled to a partial refund.

The bill doesn't seem to go as far as Wisconsin's by ending collective bargaining rights in Florida, though in a right-to-work state there's only so much union bargaining that can take place. Still, the language about union dues sure looks like it's right out of the playbook of the tea party and Wisconsin's Gov. Scott Walker (who incidentally is not a high-speed rail fan, either).

Here are some excerpts from Thrasher's bill, SB 830, which doesn't seem to have a house sponsor. Yet.

"Deductions may not be made for purposes of political activity, including contributions to a candidate, political party, political committee, committee of continuous existence, electioneering communications organization, or organization exempt from taxation under s. 501(c)(4) or s. 527 of the Internal Revenue Code."

"A public employer may not deduct or collect the dues, uniform assessments, fines, penalties, or special assessments of an employee organization from the compensation of any person employed by the public employer..."

"Unless an employee has executed a written authorization, the employee is entitled to a pro rata refund of any dues, uniform assessments, fines, penalties, or special assessments paid by the employee and used by the labor organization of which the employee is a member to make contributions or expenditures, as defined in s. 106.011. The written authorization must be executed by the employee separately for each fiscal year of the labor organization and shall be accompanied with a detailed account, provided by the labor organization, of all contributions and expenditures made by the labor organization in the preceding 24 months."

Hey, John Thrasher: The Florida Constitution recognizes the right of employees to bargain collectively.


The Gator Uprising is now on the horizon.

[ngant17]

3. I'll pay my AFSCME union dues whether it's automatic or not

That part of the bill will accomplish nothing. It's 'job insurance'. You can pay for auto insurance, homeowners insurance, medical insurance. You can do all of it by online banking or automatic deductions, union dues are just another type of insurance that you should have.

Funny how they don't mind if their rightwing PACs spend millions of dollars to do the same thing. What's the difference? If private corporations are being given the same rights as individuals, why make a fuss about unions?
Unless you really hate the democratic process by the majority of people.

I can't imagine any of this silly rightwing crapola making it past a court challenge.

[goforit]

4. If any cocky-ass govenor needed a good boot is Rick Scott.

Where the hell is Disney when ya need it.
They should be supporting great education!
They should be supporting fast rail from Tampa to Orlando!
They should be protesting 24/7 for a prosperous florida in Scotts office!!!!!

This Govenor Scott is demolishing Florida on orders from the New World order to transition it to
a friggin "BANANA REPUBLIC"

[midnight]

5. K&R

[drm604]

6. Too late to rec but I'm kicking!

:kick: