As a teacher and union member, I’m deeply concerned about two bills being considered in the Florida Legislature. 

The House bill would require teachers’ unions to get support from more than half of all eligible employees in a district — even those who don’t vote — in order to stay certified.

The Senate bill was amended and now requires at least 60% of votes cast to be in favor, with at least 25% of eligible employees participating in the election.

Previously, unions only needed a simple majority of those who actually voted — a threshold they typically exceeded. Because turnout is usually around 30%, the House version would be especially difficult for unions to meet.

Republican lawmakers are pushing these bills and many of my fellow Florida teachers strongly oppose it, including Republican voters who attended a Senate committee meeting to speak out against it.

These bills don’t support hard-working public school workers who already have difficult jobs that are usually underpaid. Our unions allow us to negotiate collectively for pay, benefits, working conditions, and classroom policies, and to have representation in disputes with our employer. If these bills lead to unions losing certification, we could lose our collective bargaining rights and our voice in important workplace decisions.

As a Florida teacher, I’m asking our lawmakers to vote no on SB 1296 and HB 995. My union gives me a voice in decisions that affect my students, my classroom, and my livelihood. Don’t make it harder for educators to stand together and advocate for the schools our communities depend on.