Collective Power

The employees categorized as Trades Workers in Citrus Schools are working to reclaim their voice and win back a contract that protects their working conditions!

Since passage of SB256 in 2023, the process for registration and renewal of certified bargaining agents has become more onerous for nearly all public sector unions in the state of Florida. Not only did SB256 eliminate payroll dues deduction rights for most public sector unions, but Florida law now requires that public sector unions register annually with 60% membership density or petition to be recertified as the bargaining agent through election. In the months that followed its passage, tens of thousands public employees lost their union and the protected working conditions that had been previously negotiated with their employers. For our fellow Citrus Schools employees in blue-collar support positions, the reality of what it means to lose a union is a lesson for us all. 

Once organized under Teamsters, Local 79, Citrus County Schools' blue-collar support employees are working without contract protections. This unit consisted of operational support employees, including maintenance, custodial, transportation and food service workers. Following the passage of SB256 by the Florida legislature in 2023, membership dropped sharply and the union was unable to secure the petitions required to trigger a recertification election. On June 26, 2024, the bargaining unit was decertified by Florida's Public Employees Relations Commission.

Decertification has cost new and career employees in critical roles dearly, including guarantees for:

Without a collective bargaining agreement, all of the previously negotiated working conditions are no longer enforceable. Moreover, without a certified bargaining unit and union, hundreds of school workers in Citrus County are denied a voice in negotiating improvements to their wages, hours and working conditions. In a time when funding constraints are forcing tough decisions across the district, the absence of a voice for these vital employees is especially worrisome. Instructional and white collar support employees continue to negotiate through their union (CCEA) to address their needs and improve their daily lives, while operational support employees don't even have a seat at the table.

Reclaiming the power of a collective voice takes real work and deep commitment to union values. The path to winning recognition and a contract requires that workers organize in a way that results in strong relationships that are sustainable over time. The strength of any union is in its members...both by numbers and active engagement.

If you are interested in being part of the effort to organize trades workers in Citrus Schools, please contact:

Valerie Smith

FEA Regional Specialist

valerie.smith@floridaea.org