The state fires back against teachers’ unions attempt to block a new Florida law on dues deductions

Share
Labor unions
Labor unions. Via nebari / iStock for WMNF News

This week Florida urged a federal judge to reject an attempt by teachers’ unions to block part of a new law that prevents union dues from being deducted from workers’ paychecks.

The law, approved this spring by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers, placed a series of additional restrictions on public-employee unions.

Unions representing school employees and university faculty members filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law and last month filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against the dues-deduction ban.

The Florida Education Association and other unions contend the ban violates contracts that require dues to be deducted from paychecks.

Those contracts were reached before the new law took effect. But in a 51-page court document filed Wednesday, attorneys for the state said Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker should deny the request for an injunction.

In part, they argued that union collective-bargaining agreements are subject to changes in state laws and that unions have other ways to collect dues.

Also, the attorneys wrote that unions have not shown the state lacked a “legitimate purpose” in approving the change.

“At this stage, Florida asserts the significant and legitimate public purpose of increasing transparency and ensuring public employees are fully informed about the dues they are paying their unions,” the state’s attorneys wrote. “Courts have readily concluded that similar public purposes justify state laws that substantially impair public contracts.”

Walker in June declined to issue an injunction, but lawyers for the unions revised the lawsuit and the injunction request.

©2023 The News Service of Florida

You may also like

Talking Animals: veteran advocate delivers anatomy of a victorious, major animal rights campaign

Jodie Wiederkehr, Executive Director of Chicago Alliance for Animals ...

Fascist violence and the truth laid bare

Commemorative in Ocoee, FL marking racist election day violence in...

The 2024 Veganic Summit with Meg Kelly

Join Anni and Tanja to discuss organic gardening, farming and...

The Scoop: Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF

Republicans dominate early voting in Florida Republicans dominated early voting,...

Ways to listen

WMNF is listener-supported. That means we don't advertise like a commercial station, and we're not part of a university.

Ways to support

WMNF volunteers have fun providing a variety of needed services to keep your community radio station alive and kickin'.

Follow us on Instagram

Excellent Zest
Player position: