TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — While political assaults on public employee unions in Wisconsin and other states have been grabbing the headlines, the workers' counterparts in Florida also have been under attack from the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Lawmakers are preparing to gut union strength, curbing their ability to collect dues through automatic paycheck deductions, forcing them to get written permission from each member before making political contributions and calling for unions that fall below a certain level of membership to be stripped of collective bargaining rights.
One of the bills passed the House last week and is awaiting Senate approval.
What's different in Florida, however, is a state constitutional provision that protects public employees' right to collectively bargain. The term describes negotiations between unions and employers to agree on pay, benefits and other work conditions. The constitutional protection means Florida lawmakers face limits on what they can do to roll back union power.
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