Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, says he’s protecting Floridians right to work and collectively bargain, but Democrats and labor unions don’t agree. Plakon's proposal requires union members to confirm with their employers that they want dues deducted from their paychecks.
"This is a union-busting bill,” said Rep. Carlos Guillermo-Smith, D-Orlando.“It’s very overt. It’s very obvious.”
Plakon says his current bill is a response to unions pressuring people to sign up.
“We’ve heard anecdotal reports of social pressure to stay in the union and this will allow a private interaction between the employer and employee…they can, in the privacy of their own home, change that with a text message," he said.
The bill passed a House committee on a party-line vote Monday with Democrats opposing. It would affect teachers, law enforcement and other state workers. The Senate version of the bill has one more stop before reaching the chamber floor. Another proposal approved by the House committee targets teachers unions and prevents dues from being deducted from paychecks.
Florida lawmakers have, for years, approved measures aimed at curbing unions. A few years ago, the Republican-led legislature approved a law that would decertify unions if they fall under a certain level for membership.
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