Florida’s public workers are under attack — again. Senate Bill 1296 is moving through the Florida legislature, and if it passes, it could eliminate unions across our state. As SEIU FPSU members, this affects every single one of us. Here’s what you need to know and why we’re fighting back.
This isn’t the first attack.
If SB 1296 sounds familiar, that’s because it isn’t the first time Florida lawmakers have come after us. Since 2023, under SB 256, over 100 public-sector bargaining units have been decertified, 69,000 workers have lost union representation, and more than 16,000 education workers have lost their voice at the bargaining table. SB 1296 goes even further. Every time we learn the game, they change the rules.
What SB 1296 would actually do.
SB 1296 would require 50% of the entire bargaining unit to vote in favor of the union for recertification. Not 50% of those who show up to vote — 50% of every eligible worker. If turnout is low for any reason — illness, scheduling, life — the union disappears. This goes beyond Right-to-Work. It threatens a union’s right to exist.
What losing a union contract really means.
Without a union contract, workers lose bargaining power, workplace protections weaken, wages and benefits become harder to defend, and workers are more vulnerable to retaliation. When workers lose, the communities we serve feel it too — the students, families, and residents who depend on public services every single day.
Florida public workers are already up against the wall.
We cannot strike. We face strict recertification rules. We must maintain high membership thresholds. SB 1296 adds yet another hurdle at a time when the cost of living keeps rising and working families need their union more than ever.
What you can do right now.
Public workers deserve better wages — not government overreach into our collective bargaining rights. We’ve fought too hard and come too far to let this bill silence us.
Share this with your coworkers, your family, and your fellow union members. The more voices we raise, the stronger we are. Check out our Instagram post here and follow us for the latest updates.
Together, we’re stronger.
— SEIU FPSU
