It’s that time of the year again. As the summer months come to an end, students, teachers, parents, and school district employees head back to work and begin another year. Florida Public Services Union members in Lake, Pinellas and Palm Beach Counties went back to school this week.
Although back to school is supposed to be a time of new beginning and fresh starts, this years opening wont be accompanied by the usual joy and good will. School district employees across Florida are returning to school this year to face an 3% effective pay cut thanks to pension reform legislation passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Scott.
Many of our school district members are also facing increased insurance costs as a result of shrinking school board budgets. In some areas, however, our members have been successful in fighting back against massive insurance increases. In Palm Beach County members were facing health insurance premium increases of over $90 a month. FPSU members mobilized and fought back with one voice and were able to cut these increases by over 85%. Palm Beach County School District the only the first of many battles that our members will be fighting across the state in the coming months.
As the school year begins, we want to say good luck to all of the school district employees around the State of Florida who are returning to work this week. We know times are tough but we’re fight back to protect your good jobs. Can you afford not to fight back?