After 9 years, Miami teachers union president will not be seeking re-election
The president of the United Teachers of Dade (UTD), the third largest teachers union in the country, will not be seeking re-election after nine years in the position.
Karla Hernandez-Mats, 44, has been in executive leadership of the union for 12 years and has been both celebrated and criticized during her tenure.
Hernandez-Mats, a former teacher and daughter of Honduran immigrants, announced her decision not to run on Saturday, just days before the Monday deadline for candidates to submit their bid to run in the elections for union executive positions which will take place Feb, 26, 2025.
“I am super proud of my team and the work we have been able to accomplish,” said Hernandez-Mats.
Hernandez-Mats’ career of advocating for teachers in Miami-Dade had many high moments, such as securing pay raises for teachers and fighting to re-certify the union amid increasingly tough requirements. But it has also been speckled with controversy; she has been the punching bag for Republicans who disagree with her policies and view her as part of the increasingly progressive left.
Hernandez-Mats leaves the UTD after helping pass two local referendums to help increase teacher salaries, eliminating the union’s debt, helping purchase a new building in Miami Springs for the union, and facing off against critics within her own union as well as powerful enemies in Tallahassee.
A rocky tenure
Although largely popular, during her time at United Teachers of Dade Hernandez-Mats feuded with some members that had lost faith in the union’s ability to affect real change.
In 2022, a group of teachers ran against Hernandez-Mats on a platform of ridding the union of political polarization and increasing transparency and enforcement of the contract. They ultimately failed and Hernandez-Mats, vice president Antonio White and secretary-treasurer Mindy Grimes-Festge, who ran as the Frontline caucus, retained their positions.
Hernandez-Mats also often found herself at odds with Gov. Ron DeSantis, especially after she ran as Charlie Crist’s running mate in the 2022 gubernatorial race.
While she was running, she distanced herself from campaigning for the referendum to increase teacher pay in order to not politicize the issue, a decision which was criticized. The referendum ultimately passed.
DeSantis tried to link Hernandez-Mats to a UTD union steward named Wendell Nibbs who is now a convicted sexual predator serving an eight-year prison sentence for three counts of sexual battery against minors.
After her candidacy for lieutenant governor was announced, the Miami Herald reported that DeSantis called Hernández-Mats a “teachers union boss” and that Nibbs was one of the union’s “top henchmen.” Hernandez-Mats denied any connection to Nibbs.
More recently, Hernandez-Mats was directly attacked by DeSantis in a press conference over the summer, where he claimed she makes almost $300,000 a year. Hernandez-Mats later that day issued a statement saying she makes $181,723.
During the pandemic, Gov. DeSantis and Hernandez-Mats also clashed over masking policies and school re-openings. She was even painted by Republicans as a Fidel Castro sympathizer, being nicknamed “Karla Marx” in a hashtag. She vehemently denies this accusation. She told the Herald that when Castro died she rejoiced in the streets.
Governor DeSantis has said teachers’ unions “have become very partisan,” in recent years, according to Florida Politics. He signed a law that directly targeted teacher’s unions, forcing them to collect dues from at least 60 percent of their members or else face a re-certification vote.
Critics view the state law as “union busting.” The law also makes it illegal to automatically deduct union dues from members’ paychecks—an additional administrative hurdle for the union. Firefighters, police, and correction officers unions are exempt from the law.
Over the past year, Hernandez-Mats has led the union through the first of what will likely be many cycles of re-certification.
Ultimately, the union retained its position as the bargaining unit for Miami-Dade educators, with 83 percent of the vote, defeating the Miami-Dade Education Coalition, a competing union backed by the conservative Freedom Foundation.
Just a month ago, the union finalized their latest contract which included an average of 4.5 percent raise for teacher salaries.
Going out on top
Hernandez-Mats began her career as a special education teacher at Hialeah Middle Community School. In 2010, she was named teacher of the year. In addition to leading the union, she also serves on a number of education boards including the Florida Education Association Governance Board.
Hernandez-Mats, who will remain president through May 2025, has endorsed Vice President Antonio “Tony” White as her successor. She also supports Dannielle Boyer, an ESOL teacher and activist who will be running for White’s position.
White is a former middle school teacher and Miami-Dade County Public Schools alumni. He has served as vice president for the past nine years, and is also an air force veteran.
“I’ve been a fighter my entire life,” said White, who praised Hernandez-Mats’ leadership, and says his experience working with the union makes running for her position a natural next step.
White also says that although the certification struggles pose a big obstacle for the union, it’s also an opportunity to “reinvigorate the movement,” and bring awareness to the importance of unions as they fight to stay afloat.
Mindy Grimes-Festge, the current secretary-treasurer, will seek re-election.
“As a leader you always want to leave when you are at the top of the game,” said Hernandez-Mats.
She says she plans to continue advocating in the education and labor space. “ I am so passionate about union work and community organizing that this is where I want to focus my energy on,” she said. She says she has a number of job opportunities on the table, but is not ready to announce her next move.
This story was originally published December 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM.
