Florida House bill takes aim at public sector unions. Elizabeth Warren weighs in.

The Florida House on Tuesday took up a bill that would impose new requirements on public employee unions, including teachers, firefighters and police officers. But there was an unusual commentator on the process: Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren.

She released a video commenting specifically on the bill, House Bill 1. Tuesday was also Super Tuesday, when Warren’s future viability as a candidate would be determined by the 14 states plus one U.S. territory casting their primary ballots.

“This is just an effort to try to put red tape and burden the efforts of workers who want to be part of the union and bargain collectively,” Warren says in the video. “Pure and simple, HB 1 is just another plan to try to break the backs of unions.”

The bill, sponsored by Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, would require employers to confirm with their employees that they signed up to join a union and deduct dues from their paycheck. This would have to be done every time there’s a new contract, or every three years, whichever is earlier.

It would also mandate that those opt-in forms have language in 14-point type stating that union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment. Finally, the form that employees use to opt-out of the union may not ask why they are leaving the union, according to the bill.

On the House floor, Grant repeated pushed back on the characterization of this as a “union-busting bill,” saying the requirements for continuous renewals will help employees leave the unions if they feel intimidated to stay. He said it should have minimal impact on unions that already follow the rules, but it’s intended to correct those that aren’t.

“It’s an employee payroll protection bill,” he said. “It says before money is deducted from your hard-earned paycheck, that you consented to that.”

Unions oppose the bill

Police and firefighters unions have spoken out against the bill in committees, but teachers’ unions, which often clash with the Legislature’s education policies, have unsurprisingly been the most vocal.

In 2018, the Legislature passed a law that said teachers’ unions must maintain membership of at least 50% of eligible dues-paying members. Mike Gandalfo, president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, said the fact that employers would be part of the renewal process makes that situation more dicey.

“This is not meant to help people, this is meant to hurt people. This is meant to hurt the voice of regular, working class people,” he said.

Karla Hernandez Mats, president of the United Teachers of Dade, said the new administrative requirements would cost money that could reduce their advocacy. She praised Warren for her engagement.

“I think it’s great to see presidential candidates publicly taking a stand with Florida public sector workers,” she said.

The House did not take a final vote on the bill Tuesday, but with Republican support, it is likely to pass the next time it’s heard.

There was a demonstration in the Capitol rotunda just as the House convened, where protesters shouted: “What’s disgusting? Union busting!”

Despite the drama, it’s still highly unclear if the bill will become law. The Senate version has not been heard in a single committee.

Miami Herald staff writer Colleen Wright contributed to this report.