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On the second day of the Teamsters Public Services Division Conference, members and representatives gathered in the morning to hear about political, legislative, and legal efforts to protect and strengthen public sector unions. Presenters included Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, Teamsters Staff Attorney Lisa Pau, and Director of the Teamsters Department of Political and Legislative Action James Donovan.
“Unions time and again have shown us how instrumental they have been in negotiating better pay, better working conditions, and better schedules for working men and women,” said Minority Leader Driskell. “Collective bargaining is a bedrock principal that all workers deserve, but in Florida, that right is under attack. Just last year, Florida Republicans passed Senate Bill 256, which was signed into law by Gov DeSantis and effectively kills public sector unions. Every House and Senate Democrat voted NO on that atrocious bill—because it is a union busting bill, plain and simple.”
“In the public sector, you may not have the right to strike but you do have the right to vote your boss out of office,” Pau said. “Teamsters can flex our political muscles in a way that no other institution can.”
“For public employees, everything is political,” Donovan said. “A positive outcome of political efforts in the public sector is that we now have collective bargaining laws in the state of Virginia. On the flip side, it’s clear that public sector union are under attack. Our department is tracking those attacks from state to state, and working with local unions and Joint Councils to ensure we are protecting the interests of our members.”
Attendees also heard from Teamsters Organizing Director Chris Rosell who provided a thorough update on successful public sector organizing campaigns.
“In 2023, we gained 2,000 new Teamsters from public sector organizing in industries such as health care, law enforcement, and public works,” Rosell said. “I believe that we have countless opportunities to continue to organize essential public sector workers.”
Following the morning session, Teamsters will spend the rest of the day attending workshops on how to build an engaged membership, contract costing, fighting back against efforts to weaken public sector unions, and the Teamsters Legal Defense Fund.
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“Unions time and again have shown us how instrumental they have been in negotiating better pay, better working conditions, and better schedules for working men and women,” said Minority Leader Driskell. “Collective bargaining is a bedrock principal that all workers deserve, but in Florida, that right is under attack. Just last year, Florida Republicans passed Senate Bill 256, which was signed into law by Gov DeSantis and effectively kills public sector unions. Every House and Senate Democrat voted NO on that atrocious bill—because it is a union busting bill, plain and simple.”
“In the public sector, you may not have the right to strike but you do have the right to vote your boss out of office,” Pau said. “Teamsters can flex our political muscles in a way that no other institution can.”
“For public employees, everything is political,” Donovan said. “A positive outcome of political efforts in the public sector is that we now have collective bargaining laws in the state of Virginia. On the flip side, it’s clear that public sector union are under attack. Our department is tracking those attacks from state to state, and working with local unions and Joint Councils to ensure we are protecting the interests of our members.”
Attendees also heard from Teamsters Organizing Director Chris Rosell who provided a thorough update on successful public sector organizing campaigns.
“In 2023, we gained 2,000 new Teamsters from public sector organizing in industries such as health care, law enforcement, and public works,” Rosell said. “I believe that we have countless opportunities to continue to organize essential public sector workers.”
Following the morning session, Teamsters will spend the rest of the day attending workshops on how to build an engaged membership, contract costing, fighting back against efforts to weaken public sector unions, and the Teamsters Legal Defense Fund.
More...