Conference Committee reaches Agreement on FRS changes
May 2, 2011
Late Friday evening, April 29, 2011, the House and Senate Conference committee charged with hammering out the changes to the Florida Retirement System reached an agreement on what will be in the FRS conforming bill. Most of the changes will not impact current FRS enrollees.
Current law is maintained for the following provisions:
· Defined benefit (DB) plan continues as currently offered (new title: “Pension Plan”). *NOTE* DB closes to elected officials and senior management hired on or after July 1.
· Defined Contribution (DC) plan continues as currently offered (new title: Investment Plan). Elected officials and senior management hired on or after July 1, required to enter DC plan ONLY.
· Health Insurance Subsidy (HIS) continues as in current law.
· There is no compulsory nor mandatory enrollment in the defined contribution (investment) plan – except for elected officials and senior management hired on or after July 1.
Current Employees will face the following changes under the agreement:
· 3% required employee contribution of all FRS enrolled employees – except those in DROP
· Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): This is a bit complicated. *NOTE* COLA changes will not affect current retirees, including those in DROP.
• Effective July 1, the COLA benefit calculation is suspended for 5 years until 2016. Our current understanding of this COLA reform provision is that this 5-year suspension applies to current employees. The Conference Committee agreement anticipates that in 2016, the FRS COLA benefit will return to its current law status of 3% per year (assuming the FRS Trust Fund is funded on a fiscally sound basis, and that funding is available to pay for this).
• For current employees, this means that an employee’s COLA benefit will be prorated across the total number of years of career service. Take, for example, an employee who has 25 years of creditable service on June 30, 2011, and continues to work for another 5 years for a total of 30 years of career service. Upon retirement, that employee’s COLA benefit would be calculated by dividing the number of career service years that include COLA credit by the total number of years of career service -- in this example, dividing 25 years (COLA credit) by 30 years (total career service). Thus, the COLA benefit to which the employee would be entitled is 2.499% (instead of the current law COLA benefit of 3%).
Employees entering FRS employment on or after July 1, 2011 face the following changes:
· For employees who initially enroll in the pension plan, on or after July 1, vesting increases to 8 years (from current law: 6 years).
· Although DROP continues intact, employees entering DROP on or after July 1, 2011 will earn a reduced interest rate of 1.3% (instead of current law 6.5%)
· Average final compensation will increase to 8 highest years of creditable service for employees enrolled on or after July 1, 2011 (instead of current law: 5 highest years)
· The retirement eligibility for age for employees enrolled on or after July 1, 2011 will increase to age 65 years (from current law: age 62).
· The retirement eligibility for years of creditable service will increase to 33 years (from current law : 30 years).
· Employees who enroll in the Defined Contribution Plan on or after July 1, 2011 will be 100% vested of employer contributions after 8 years of creditable service.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Protests Scheduled for April 14th and 18th
April 14th- Sign Waving and protest of Rick Scott at WSRE. WSRE will be airing Jeff Week's "Conversations" interview with Rick Scott on April 14th, 15th, and the 17th. We will be protesting the interview. Keep in mind that WE ARE NOT protesting WSRE TV but are protesting the interview with Rick Scott so we need to be clear with our signage that the protest is directed towards Rick Scott and not towards WSRE or Pensacola State College.
WHAT: Sign waving and protest of Rick Scott interview
WHEN: April 14th from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
ADDRESS: 1000 College Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32504
APRIL 18th- Tax Day protest at Bank of America. This tax day has been extended to Monday April 18th. We will meet up and picket B of A on this day as they received billions in bailout money during the first quarter of 2009 to show the hypocrisy of Florida legislators and Rick Scott who are pushing through the legislation with budget cuts that affect working families in Florida while giving tax breaks to corporations. Senators and House representatives say they have researched all options thoroughly to resolve the economic issues of Florida and can have found that cutting across the board in the public sector will resolved the budget problem in Florida. We know that's not true as there are plenty of corporate tax loopholes that can be filled that will help. Legislators refuse to tax corporations and we'll show them on the 18th as well as the rest of the general public that we will not let Florida be a tax free corporate haven. We need to bring a large crowd for this action so please start spreading the word. Also, signage needs to be specific to why we picketing.
WHAT: Tax Day protest at Bank of America
WHEN: April 18th from 4:00 P.M to 5:30 P.M.
ADDRESS: 5041 Bayou Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32503
For more information, contact F. Lee Pryor, NW FL Mobilization Coordinator, FL AFL-CIO at (850) 380-9761.
WHAT: Sign waving and protest of Rick Scott interview
WHEN: April 14th from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
ADDRESS: 1000 College Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32504
APRIL 18th- Tax Day protest at Bank of America. This tax day has been extended to Monday April 18th. We will meet up and picket B of A on this day as they received billions in bailout money during the first quarter of 2009 to show the hypocrisy of Florida legislators and Rick Scott who are pushing through the legislation with budget cuts that affect working families in Florida while giving tax breaks to corporations. Senators and House representatives say they have researched all options thoroughly to resolve the economic issues of Florida and can have found that cutting across the board in the public sector will resolved the budget problem in Florida. We know that's not true as there are plenty of corporate tax loopholes that can be filled that will help. Legislators refuse to tax corporations and we'll show them on the 18th as well as the rest of the general public that we will not let Florida be a tax free corporate haven. We need to bring a large crowd for this action so please start spreading the word. Also, signage needs to be specific to why we picketing.
WHAT: Tax Day protest at Bank of America
WHEN: April 18th from 4:00 P.M to 5:30 P.M.
ADDRESS: 5041 Bayou Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32503
For more information, contact F. Lee Pryor, NW FL Mobilization Coordinator, FL AFL-CIO at (850) 380-9761.
Senate Budget Committee to Vote on Union Busting Bill
Lines have been drawn
ALL HANDS ON DECK!
Union Busting BillIs up this week in Senate Committee!
This Wednesday at 1:30pm, the Senate Budget Committee will vote on Senate Bill 830, the Union Gag Bill.
This legislation would deny access to dues deductions from public employees’ paychecks if they choose to be a member of a union. In addition, SB 830 takes away workers’ rights to participate collectively in political activities by outlawing deductions for political funds. If SB 830 becomes law, it will restrict the political rights of thousands of Florida’s families.
SB 830 only targets public sector unions. This bill would not apply to the other 364 organizations that the State of Florida offers payroll deductions, which includes giant insurance and investment organizations.
SB 830’s counterpart in the House (HB 1021) has already been passed, and this is one of the final steps of this legislation before it heads to the Senate Floor for a final vote!!!
Call the Senate Budget Committee TODAY, tomorrow and Wednesday morning and tell them to vote against this anti-middle class, anti-democratic legislation. Tell them: "Stop the attacks on my rights. It is my choice to join my union and I do not want politicians in Tallahassee taking away my rights."
Budget Committee Members Contact Information
Alexander, JD (Chair) (R) 17 (850) 487-5044
Lynn, Evelyn J. (R) 7 (850) 487-5033
Negron, Joe (Vice Chair) (R) 28 (850) 487-5088
Margolis, Gwen (D) 35 (850) 487-5121
Altman, Thad (R) 24 (850) 487-5053
Montford, Bill (D) 6 (850) 487-5004
Benacquisto, Lizbeth (R) 27 (850) 487-5356
Rich, Nan (D) 34 (850) 487-5103
Bogdanoff, Ellyn Setnor (R) 25 (850) 487-5100
Richter, Garrett (R) 37 (850) 487-5124
Fasano, Mike (R) 11 (850) 487-5062
Simmons, David (R) 22 (850) 487-5050
Flores, Anitere (R) 38 (850) 487-5130
Siplin, Gary (D) 19 (850) 487-5190
Gaetz (D), Don (R) 4 (850) 487-5009
Sobel, Eleanor (D) 31 (850) 487-5097
Hays, Alan (R) 20 (850) 487-5014
Thrasher, John (R) 8 (850) 487-5030
Joyner, Arthenia (D) 18 (850) 487-5059
Wise, Stephen R. (R) 5 (850) 487-5027
Listed by: Name, Party, District, Phone number
ALL HANDS ON DECK!
Union Busting BillIs up this week in Senate Committee!
This Wednesday at 1:30pm, the Senate Budget Committee will vote on Senate Bill 830, the Union Gag Bill.
This legislation would deny access to dues deductions from public employees’ paychecks if they choose to be a member of a union. In addition, SB 830 takes away workers’ rights to participate collectively in political activities by outlawing deductions for political funds. If SB 830 becomes law, it will restrict the political rights of thousands of Florida’s families.
SB 830 only targets public sector unions. This bill would not apply to the other 364 organizations that the State of Florida offers payroll deductions, which includes giant insurance and investment organizations.
SB 830’s counterpart in the House (HB 1021) has already been passed, and this is one of the final steps of this legislation before it heads to the Senate Floor for a final vote!!!
Call the Senate Budget Committee TODAY, tomorrow and Wednesday morning and tell them to vote against this anti-middle class, anti-democratic legislation. Tell them: "Stop the attacks on my rights. It is my choice to join my union and I do not want politicians in Tallahassee taking away my rights."
Budget Committee Members Contact Information
Alexander, JD (Chair) (R) 17 (850) 487-5044
Lynn, Evelyn J. (R) 7 (850) 487-5033
Negron, Joe (Vice Chair) (R) 28 (850) 487-5088
Margolis, Gwen (D) 35 (850) 487-5121
Altman, Thad (R) 24 (850) 487-5053
Montford, Bill (D) 6 (850) 487-5004
Benacquisto, Lizbeth (R) 27 (850) 487-5356
Rich, Nan (D) 34 (850) 487-5103
Bogdanoff, Ellyn Setnor (R) 25 (850) 487-5100
Richter, Garrett (R) 37 (850) 487-5124
Fasano, Mike (R) 11 (850) 487-5062
Simmons, David (R) 22 (850) 487-5050
Flores, Anitere (R) 38 (850) 487-5130
Siplin, Gary (D) 19 (850) 487-5190
Gaetz (D), Don (R) 4 (850) 487-5009
Sobel, Eleanor (D) 31 (850) 487-5097
Hays, Alan (R) 20 (850) 487-5014
Thrasher, John (R) 8 (850) 487-5030
Joyner, Arthenia (D) 18 (850) 487-5059
Wise, Stephen R. (R) 5 (850) 487-5027
Listed by: Name, Party, District, Phone number
Thursday, April 7, 2011
FLORIDA HOUSE ED COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SAYS HE'LL KILL COLLEGE TENURE BILL
HERALD/TIMES TALLAHASSEE BUREAU Thursday, April 7, 2011
A House plan to end tenure in state colleges could be dead.
Rep. Bill Proctor, a St. Augustine Republican who heads up the House's education committee, asked college presidents at their meeting this morning what they thought of the bill that would end multi-year contracts for full-time faculty at the state's community colleges. The bill popped up two weeks ago soon after the legislature passed an overhaul of teacher tenure in public schools.
"I've got it on the agenda," he said, "or I can kill it." But he wanted to know what they thought.
Dr. Eileen Holden, chairwoman of the Council of Presidents, told Proctor that the group's steering committee opposed the bill.
"Very good," said Proctor.
Proctor said outside the meeting that he had been surprised by the bill's appearance two weeks ago. He said he considers the matter over "unless I get instructions to run it."
The bill was pushed by Rep. Erik Fresen, chairman of the K-20 Competitiveness committee. He has said the bill is a result of conversations he'd had with unnamed college presidents who felt "handcuffed" by requirements of contracts. Critics said ending tenure for college faculty would put the state at a hiring disadvantage. The bill had passed out of the K-20 Competiveness panel on a party-line vote
HERALD/TIMES TALLAHASSEE BUREAU Thursday, April 7, 2011
A House plan to end tenure in state colleges could be dead.
Rep. Bill Proctor, a St. Augustine Republican who heads up the House's education committee, asked college presidents at their meeting this morning what they thought of the bill that would end multi-year contracts for full-time faculty at the state's community colleges. The bill popped up two weeks ago soon after the legislature passed an overhaul of teacher tenure in public schools.
"I've got it on the agenda," he said, "or I can kill it." But he wanted to know what they thought.
Dr. Eileen Holden, chairwoman of the Council of Presidents, told Proctor that the group's steering committee opposed the bill.
"Very good," said Proctor.
Proctor said outside the meeting that he had been surprised by the bill's appearance two weeks ago. He said he considers the matter over "unless I get instructions to run it."
The bill was pushed by Rep. Erik Fresen, chairman of the K-20 Competitiveness committee. He has said the bill is a result of conversations he'd had with unnamed college presidents who felt "handcuffed" by requirements of contracts. Critics said ending tenure for college faculty would put the state at a hiring disadvantage. The bill had passed out of the K-20 Competiveness panel on a party-line vote
CALLS AND LETTERS HAVING AN EFFECT. UPDATES ON DROP, FRS CONTRIBUTIONS
April 6, 2011: From FRSOptions.info
SB 2100 passes 2nd reading with amendments!
As best as we can decipher the myriad amendments, amendments to the amendments, and replacements to the amendments, SB 2100 has passed its 2nd reading and is heading to the third and final reading. The changes would seem to indicate the following:
Employee retirement contributions would be a graduated scale; 2% on the first $25,000, 4% for compensation between $25,000 and $50,000, and 6% for compensation over %50,000.
AFC will include up to 300 hours of overtime, and 500 hours of accumulated leave time.
The DROP will continue through July 1, 2016. No new enrollees after that date.
The interest rate for DROP members entering after July 1, 2011 will be reduced to 2%, it will stay at 6.5% for those enrolling before July 1.
Vesting for the Pension goes to 10 years for those hired after July 1. Only those hired in Special Risk may participate in the Pension Plan after July, all other new hires must participate in the Investment Plan.
Special Risk members retain the normal retirement date of age 55 or 25 years of service.
Accrual rates remain the same.
We have done our best to go back and forth with the language, and make the substitutions for all of the changes, and are cautiously optimistic that we have the proposals straight. The bill goes next for the 3rd reading. If approved by the Senate, it will then have to be approved by the House. That would mean HB 1405 must go through a similar process and the terms would ultimately have to be identical to become law.
YOU ARE HAVING A POSITIVE AFFECT, KEEP UP THE CALLS!
SB 2100 passes 2nd reading with amendments!
As best as we can decipher the myriad amendments, amendments to the amendments, and replacements to the amendments, SB 2100 has passed its 2nd reading and is heading to the third and final reading. The changes would seem to indicate the following:
Employee retirement contributions would be a graduated scale; 2% on the first $25,000, 4% for compensation between $25,000 and $50,000, and 6% for compensation over %50,000.
AFC will include up to 300 hours of overtime, and 500 hours of accumulated leave time.
The DROP will continue through July 1, 2016. No new enrollees after that date.
The interest rate for DROP members entering after July 1, 2011 will be reduced to 2%, it will stay at 6.5% for those enrolling before July 1.
Vesting for the Pension goes to 10 years for those hired after July 1. Only those hired in Special Risk may participate in the Pension Plan after July, all other new hires must participate in the Investment Plan.
Special Risk members retain the normal retirement date of age 55 or 25 years of service.
Accrual rates remain the same.
We have done our best to go back and forth with the language, and make the substitutions for all of the changes, and are cautiously optimistic that we have the proposals straight. The bill goes next for the 3rd reading. If approved by the Senate, it will then have to be approved by the House. That would mean HB 1405 must go through a similar process and the terms would ultimately have to be identical to become law.
YOU ARE HAVING A POSITIVE AFFECT, KEEP UP THE CALLS!
FL Tenure Bill Update
UPDATE ON THE "TENURE BILL"
PCB7193 by the House K-20 Competitiveness Sub-committee filed by Rep. Erik Fresen (R, Miami), most egregiously proposes to stop "tenure" by eliminating continuing contracts.
In support of our membership, I immediately went on record in newspaper and television interviews, and with the Chronicle of Higher Education, to express our displeasure and opposition with such a bill. The bill was a surprise to us all and the process that lead to its drafting was not inclusive of all potentially affected parties. It almost appeared to be a solution in search of a problem.
Rumors were circulating last week that this bill was promulgated by the Council of Presidents. That is NOT true. The presidents, lobbyists, and all of us involved in the legislative business for the college system learned of the bill at the same time a week ago Monday morning. The Council of Presidents has not even had a collective discussion about it. It is expected that they will discuss it at their business meeting on April 7.
The good news is that there is no Senate bill at this time. Efforts are underway to educate Rep. Fresen that much of the contracting issue he covered in the bill can already be addressed by our district boards of trustee (DBOT). The AFC is also pushing to leave tenure issues out of state government intrusion and allow each college's DBOT to deal with it if necessary.
The following analysis was compiled with the help of Margie Robertson, Chair of the AFC Faculty Commission:
1) Removes language in F.S. 1007.33 which awarded continuing contract rights to the new St. Petersburg College administrative and instructional employees .
2) Categorizes all college employees into four categories (before there was no such detail); Administrative, Educational support, Instructional Personnel, and President.
3) Specifies two types on contracts which can be issued to all personnel except the President, a probationary contract and an annual contract.
4) States that all employment is at the pleasure of the President with approval by the board of Trustees
5) Puts all employees on a probationary contract for one year upon hiring;
6) After July, 1, 2011 allows only annual contracts subsequently, except for Presidents.
7) Prohibits any continuing contract for instructors (tenure) or other right (sabbatical, etc.) unless the State Board of Education approves.
8) If annual contracts are not continued, there is no right to explanation or hearing.
9) Gives college presidents the right to terminate any contract of any employee.
10) Directs college presidents to institute evaluation systems, and
11) Sets guidelines for the reduction in force of college employees of all categories, and how to determine which employees are laid off first, second, third, etc., based on the evaluation system required above.
The Faculty Commission has also drafted a resolution, which we will hold until needed, if and when we see the bill moving forward. At this time, we expect the bill to die for this year. However, that could change at any minute. Moreover, the concepts and tenets of it may very likely re-appear next year.
Please be assured, your AFC supports its members (and non-members) and that includes faculty, support staff, career professional, classified, senior management or whatever category you are in.
Michael Brawer, MS.Ed.
Executive Director and CEO
Association of Florida Colleges
(formerly the FL Association of Community Colleges)
113 East College Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-222-3222
850-528-1082 cell
850-222-2327 fax
PCB7193 by the House K-20 Competitiveness Sub-committee filed by Rep. Erik Fresen (R, Miami), most egregiously proposes to stop "tenure" by eliminating continuing contracts.
In support of our membership, I immediately went on record in newspaper and television interviews, and with the Chronicle of Higher Education, to express our displeasure and opposition with such a bill. The bill was a surprise to us all and the process that lead to its drafting was not inclusive of all potentially affected parties. It almost appeared to be a solution in search of a problem.
Rumors were circulating last week that this bill was promulgated by the Council of Presidents. That is NOT true. The presidents, lobbyists, and all of us involved in the legislative business for the college system learned of the bill at the same time a week ago Monday morning. The Council of Presidents has not even had a collective discussion about it. It is expected that they will discuss it at their business meeting on April 7.
The good news is that there is no Senate bill at this time. Efforts are underway to educate Rep. Fresen that much of the contracting issue he covered in the bill can already be addressed by our district boards of trustee (DBOT). The AFC is also pushing to leave tenure issues out of state government intrusion and allow each college's DBOT to deal with it if necessary.
The following analysis was compiled with the help of Margie Robertson, Chair of the AFC Faculty Commission:
1) Removes language in F.S. 1007.33 which awarded continuing contract rights to the new St. Petersburg College administrative and instructional employees .
2) Categorizes all college employees into four categories (before there was no such detail); Administrative, Educational support, Instructional Personnel, and President.
3) Specifies two types on contracts which can be issued to all personnel except the President, a probationary contract and an annual contract.
4) States that all employment is at the pleasure of the President with approval by the board of Trustees
5) Puts all employees on a probationary contract for one year upon hiring;
6) After July, 1, 2011 allows only annual contracts subsequently, except for Presidents.
7) Prohibits any continuing contract for instructors (tenure) or other right (sabbatical, etc.) unless the State Board of Education approves.
8) If annual contracts are not continued, there is no right to explanation or hearing.
9) Gives college presidents the right to terminate any contract of any employee.
10) Directs college presidents to institute evaluation systems, and
11) Sets guidelines for the reduction in force of college employees of all categories, and how to determine which employees are laid off first, second, third, etc., based on the evaluation system required above.
The Faculty Commission has also drafted a resolution, which we will hold until needed, if and when we see the bill moving forward. At this time, we expect the bill to die for this year. However, that could change at any minute. Moreover, the concepts and tenets of it may very likely re-appear next year.
Please be assured, your AFC supports its members (and non-members) and that includes faculty, support staff, career professional, classified, senior management or whatever category you are in.
Michael Brawer, MS.Ed.
Executive Director and CEO
Association of Florida Colleges
(formerly the FL Association of Community Colleges)
113 East College Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-222-3222
850-528-1082 cell
850-222-2327 fax
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Florida Bill Targets Community College Tenure
The article below is from Inside Education.
March 29, 2011
A surprise piece of legislation emerged in Florida Friday that would bar community colleges in the state from awarding tenure to faculty members.
The bill will receive its first hearing today, and while it is a long way from passage, it arrives at a time when Florida lawmakers have shown considerable willingness to wipe out job protections for educators. Just weeks ago, the Legislature approved a ban on multiyear contracts for elementary and secondary school teachers, effectively ending tenure in the state's K-12 system.
Indeed in interviews after the final House of Representatives vote on that bill, Dean Cannon, the speaker of the House, said that he had heard interest from community college presidents in applying the idea to their institutions, and that he believed the idea had "merit."
The House K-20 Competitiveness Subcommittee released the new bill on community colleges on Friday -- and scheduled today's hearing without informing faculty or community college groups, officials said. (Many of what were once community colleges in Florida now offer four-year degrees, and some have stopped calling themselves community colleges; the legislation would apply to all 28 institutions in the Florida College System, regardless of whether they have started four-year programs.) Subcommittee members could not be reached for comment on the bill and did not respond to inquiries from Florida reporters.
Ed Mitchell, executive director of the United Faculty of Florida, a statewide faculty union, said that the organization was taking the legislation "very seriously" in light of the strong anti-tenure views expressed by legislators. He said that several Democratic legislators said Monday that they were opposed to the bill, but that the Republicans have sufficient strength to pass the legislation without Democratic support. (The union is affiliated with both the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association.)
Mitchell said that the legislation bans the colleges from awarding tenure to anyone who doesn't have it now. He said that while the language suggests an intent to strip tenure from those who currently have it, he believes that the current wording might not do so, because it bans the awarding of any multiyear contracts and doesn't seem to reflect the reality that currently tenured faculty members don't have expiring contracts.
Currently, he said, about 75 percent of full-time faculty members at Florida's colleges have tenure, and the remainder are on the tenure track.
Mitchell stressed that tenure did not mean that faculty members have no accountability. Tenure is awarded after reviews, he said, and procedures are set by the various colleges. "It's not a job for life. It just means that you have a continuing employment contract that requires just cause for termination," he said.
Noting that pay at Florida's colleges already lags the levels of other states, Mitchell quipped that those teaching could carry signs that read: "I'm here for low pay and no job security."
Are there the votes to abolish tenure at the colleges? Mitchell said that given the quiet arrival of the bill, he can't be certain, but added that "I don't think we can underestimate the determination to bust up tenure, the unions and hurt the teaching profession." (Separate legislation in Florida may threaten those faculty unions that do not have 50 percent of eligible members enrolled.)
— Scott Jaschik
March 29, 2011
A surprise piece of legislation emerged in Florida Friday that would bar community colleges in the state from awarding tenure to faculty members.
The bill will receive its first hearing today, and while it is a long way from passage, it arrives at a time when Florida lawmakers have shown considerable willingness to wipe out job protections for educators. Just weeks ago, the Legislature approved a ban on multiyear contracts for elementary and secondary school teachers, effectively ending tenure in the state's K-12 system.
Indeed in interviews after the final House of Representatives vote on that bill, Dean Cannon, the speaker of the House, said that he had heard interest from community college presidents in applying the idea to their institutions, and that he believed the idea had "merit."
The House K-20 Competitiveness Subcommittee released the new bill on community colleges on Friday -- and scheduled today's hearing without informing faculty or community college groups, officials said. (Many of what were once community colleges in Florida now offer four-year degrees, and some have stopped calling themselves community colleges; the legislation would apply to all 28 institutions in the Florida College System, regardless of whether they have started four-year programs.) Subcommittee members could not be reached for comment on the bill and did not respond to inquiries from Florida reporters.
Ed Mitchell, executive director of the United Faculty of Florida, a statewide faculty union, said that the organization was taking the legislation "very seriously" in light of the strong anti-tenure views expressed by legislators. He said that several Democratic legislators said Monday that they were opposed to the bill, but that the Republicans have sufficient strength to pass the legislation without Democratic support. (The union is affiliated with both the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association.)
Mitchell said that the legislation bans the colleges from awarding tenure to anyone who doesn't have it now. He said that while the language suggests an intent to strip tenure from those who currently have it, he believes that the current wording might not do so, because it bans the awarding of any multiyear contracts and doesn't seem to reflect the reality that currently tenured faculty members don't have expiring contracts.
Currently, he said, about 75 percent of full-time faculty members at Florida's colleges have tenure, and the remainder are on the tenure track.
Mitchell stressed that tenure did not mean that faculty members have no accountability. Tenure is awarded after reviews, he said, and procedures are set by the various colleges. "It's not a job for life. It just means that you have a continuing employment contract that requires just cause for termination," he said.
Noting that pay at Florida's colleges already lags the levels of other states, Mitchell quipped that those teaching could carry signs that read: "I'm here for low pay and no job security."
Are there the votes to abolish tenure at the colleges? Mitchell said that given the quiet arrival of the bill, he can't be certain, but added that "I don't think we can underestimate the determination to bust up tenure, the unions and hurt the teaching profession." (Separate legislation in Florida may threaten those faculty unions that do not have 50 percent of eligible members enrolled.)
— Scott Jaschik
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The End of Tenure? ACTION REQUIRED!
Now that the Governor and Legislature have created a law that stripped K-12 teachers of their continuing contracts and due process rights they are now turning their attention to doing the same to college faculty.
PCB KCOS 11-03 (click to view bill) Florida College System institution: The bill discontinues the award of tenure, multi-year contracts, and continuing contracts for all personnel of Florida College System (FCS) institutions as of July 1, 2011, except for the president of the institution. The bill prohibits the renewal, extension, or re-adoption of such contracts in effect prior to July 1, 2011; however, the board of trustees of an FCS institution (FCS BOT) may award these personnel annual contracts.
Please contact legislators today to speak out against this bill!
PCB KCOS 11-03 (click to view bill) Florida College System institution: The bill discontinues the award of tenure, multi-year contracts, and continuing contracts for all personnel of Florida College System (FCS) institutions as of July 1, 2011, except for the president of the institution. The bill prohibits the renewal, extension, or re-adoption of such contracts in effect prior to July 1, 2011; however, the board of trustees of an FCS institution (FCS BOT) may award these personnel annual contracts.
Please contact legislators today to speak out against this bill!
Proposed Changes to FRS
During the 2010 election, you heard candidates promising not to tax hard working citizens. Well, when they talk about hard working citizens it must not include public employees, because they are going to be taxed to do to fill budget holes.
When discussions began last fall about reforming FRS, we exposed the motivation behind the bill: balancing the state budget.
Now, legislators are no longer pretending. Public education employees are being taxed to run our schools.
The overall cut to education funding is over $1 billion from last year. Let’s break that down into how to zero that billion out:
$500 million through 3% employee contribution to FRS + $450 million through changes to COLA = $950 million
If they close DROP to new members they’ll have another $124 million. If they raise the retirement age that’s another $168 million. Add it all up and you have a balanced budget… without sharing the sacrifice across the voting population… and without enraging the Tea Party.
The Senate position on overall numbers for education reveals a better policy. This is true in both the K-12 sector and the higher education sector. In broad terms, the Senate places more funding in education and criminal justice. The Senate is more aggressive in cutting health care spending. The House spends more in health and human services and general government (roads, environment, etc). While the education spending proposals are fairly close, the overall budgets of the two chambers are farther apart with the Senate spending $3.3 billion more than the House.
House Position
Per Student funding $ 467.13
FRS employee contribution 3%
Total Education Funding $19.8 billion
Total overall funding $66.5 billion
Senate Position
Per Student funding $423.27
FRS employee contribution 3%
Total Education Funding Almost $21 billion
Total overall funding $69.8 billion
FRS pension changes within the budget bills: SB 7094
Here’s Pat Dix’s “down and dirty” summary of the Senate Budget Bill 7094 which will ultimately impact retirement:
1. Requires a 3% employee contribution by all employees, effective July 1, 2011.
2. Provides for the mandatory participation of new hires on or after July 1, 2011 in a defined contribution plan.
3. Vesting for current employees remains at 6 years (no change). For employees hired on or after July 1, 2011 (and will be forced into defined contribution plan), vesting will be phased in at a rate of 20% per year for 5 years (i.e., vesting in the employer share of contributions to the defined contribution plan).
4. Health Insurance Subsidy (HIS):
a. No changes for current employees (vested or not) who are hired before July.
b. No changes for current retirees
c. Continues HIS for new employees hired on or after July 1, 2011 (who will be forced to enroll in the defined contribution plan).
5. Phases out COLA for employees hired on or before June 30, 2011. Changes the COLA formula for FRS pension plan retirements so that service credit for COLA earned on or after July 1, 2011 is excluded. No change for current retirees.
6. Eliminates DROP effective July 1, 2011. No changes for current participants who will be allowed to continue to agreed upon DROP completion (usually 5 years).
7. Changes average final compensation (AFC) for all employees hired on or after July 1, 2011 (and who will be forced into the defined contribution plan) to
a. Eliminate annual leave and sick leave from computation of AFC,
b. Eliminate overtime payments in excess of 300 hours from computation of AFC,
8. Retirement eligibility remains unchanged for current employees. For new employees hired on or after July 1, 2011, retirement eligibility becomes age 62, or 6 or more years of service.
When discussions began last fall about reforming FRS, we exposed the motivation behind the bill: balancing the state budget.
Now, legislators are no longer pretending. Public education employees are being taxed to run our schools.
The overall cut to education funding is over $1 billion from last year. Let’s break that down into how to zero that billion out:
$500 million through 3% employee contribution to FRS + $450 million through changes to COLA = $950 million
If they close DROP to new members they’ll have another $124 million. If they raise the retirement age that’s another $168 million. Add it all up and you have a balanced budget… without sharing the sacrifice across the voting population… and without enraging the Tea Party.
The Senate position on overall numbers for education reveals a better policy. This is true in both the K-12 sector and the higher education sector. In broad terms, the Senate places more funding in education and criminal justice. The Senate is more aggressive in cutting health care spending. The House spends more in health and human services and general government (roads, environment, etc). While the education spending proposals are fairly close, the overall budgets of the two chambers are farther apart with the Senate spending $3.3 billion more than the House.
House Position
Per Student funding $ 467.13
FRS employee contribution 3%
Total Education Funding $19.8 billion
Total overall funding $66.5 billion
Senate Position
Per Student funding $423.27
FRS employee contribution 3%
Total Education Funding Almost $21 billion
Total overall funding $69.8 billion
FRS pension changes within the budget bills: SB 7094
Here’s Pat Dix’s “down and dirty” summary of the Senate Budget Bill 7094 which will ultimately impact retirement:
1. Requires a 3% employee contribution by all employees, effective July 1, 2011.
2. Provides for the mandatory participation of new hires on or after July 1, 2011 in a defined contribution plan.
3. Vesting for current employees remains at 6 years (no change). For employees hired on or after July 1, 2011 (and will be forced into defined contribution plan), vesting will be phased in at a rate of 20% per year for 5 years (i.e., vesting in the employer share of contributions to the defined contribution plan).
4. Health Insurance Subsidy (HIS):
a. No changes for current employees (vested or not) who are hired before July.
b. No changes for current retirees
c. Continues HIS for new employees hired on or after July 1, 2011 (who will be forced to enroll in the defined contribution plan).
5. Phases out COLA for employees hired on or before June 30, 2011. Changes the COLA formula for FRS pension plan retirements so that service credit for COLA earned on or after July 1, 2011 is excluded. No change for current retirees.
6. Eliminates DROP effective July 1, 2011. No changes for current participants who will be allowed to continue to agreed upon DROP completion (usually 5 years).
7. Changes average final compensation (AFC) for all employees hired on or after July 1, 2011 (and who will be forced into the defined contribution plan) to
a. Eliminate annual leave and sick leave from computation of AFC,
b. Eliminate overtime payments in excess of 300 hours from computation of AFC,
8. Retirement eligibility remains unchanged for current employees. For new employees hired on or after July 1, 2011, retirement eligibility becomes age 62, or 6 or more years of service.
FEA Frontline Report: April 1
“These are not textbook discussions—your decisions impact our lives… you are cutting the salaries of all public service workers by 3%...that’s less money to buy milk, groceries, gas, clothing…the ripple effects of this cut will impact the economic recovery of this state and not in a good way… We don’t make much money while we are working and now you want us to be poor until the day we die.” FEA President Andy Ford’s remarks to the Senate Budget Committee as they embarked on the 2011-12 Budget process.
Senate and House budgets
Yesterday, the Senate Budget Committee passed SB 7084 – the General Appropriations Act for 2011-12. The next stop will be the full Senate – which we believe will be around April 6. We will begin to see amendments filed within the next few days.
Budget conforming bills were heard and passed by the Budget committees this past Thursday and Friday (March 31 and April 1). The conforming bill which contains “reforms” to the Florida Retirement System is SB 7094. Remember: SB 1130 is no longer the bill to track for future changes to the FRS. The conforming bills will be amended once they are placed on the full Senate agenda next week. We’ll be working closely with legislators over the weekend and all next week to improve these bills.
The House retirement bill HB 1405 by Rep. Workman has been placed on the House Special Order calendar for Wednesday, April 6. That means the sponsor will introduce the bill to the full House, explain the bill, and then take questions from other members of the House.
All of these bills will go through significant changes during the next weeks. We’ll call this period the time of budget bill flux – it is too early in the process to predict the outcome. It is NOT too early to contact your legislators about your concerns!
Senate and House budgets
Yesterday, the Senate Budget Committee passed SB 7084 – the General Appropriations Act for 2011-12. The next stop will be the full Senate – which we believe will be around April 6. We will begin to see amendments filed within the next few days.
Budget conforming bills were heard and passed by the Budget committees this past Thursday and Friday (March 31 and April 1). The conforming bill which contains “reforms” to the Florida Retirement System is SB 7094. Remember: SB 1130 is no longer the bill to track for future changes to the FRS. The conforming bills will be amended once they are placed on the full Senate agenda next week. We’ll be working closely with legislators over the weekend and all next week to improve these bills.
The House retirement bill HB 1405 by Rep. Workman has been placed on the House Special Order calendar for Wednesday, April 6. That means the sponsor will introduce the bill to the full House, explain the bill, and then take questions from other members of the House.
All of these bills will go through significant changes during the next weeks. We’ll call this period the time of budget bill flux – it is too early in the process to predict the outcome. It is NOT too early to contact your legislators about your concerns!
We Are One Rally: April 4
On Apri 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he had gone to stand with sanitation workers demanding their dream: the right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a better life.
Today, that same demand is electrifying people across America. It’s the demand of all people– black, white, Latino, and Asian-American: the right to join together for our common dreams.
JOIN US TO MAKE APRIL 4, 2011, AND THE DAYS SURROUNDING IT A TIME TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY with working people in Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio and dozens of other states where well-funded, right-wing corporate politicians are trying to take away the rights Dr. King gave his life for. It’s a time to show movement. A time to be creative, but clear: We are one.
WHERE: Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza Downtown Pensacola
WHEN: APRIL 4 from 4:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.
Today, that same demand is electrifying people across America. It’s the demand of all people– black, white, Latino, and Asian-American: the right to join together for our common dreams.
JOIN US TO MAKE APRIL 4, 2011, AND THE DAYS SURROUNDING IT A TIME TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY with working people in Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio and dozens of other states where well-funded, right-wing corporate politicians are trying to take away the rights Dr. King gave his life for. It’s a time to show movement. A time to be creative, but clear: We are one.
WHERE: Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza Downtown Pensacola
WHEN: APRIL 4 from 4:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Get Involved! Protest this Friday
This Friday, March 25th, Governor Scott will be in town for a fund raising dinner. Escambia county educators are planning a “warm heart-felt” welcome for him. We will be gathering at Martin Luther King Plaza at the corner of Palafox and Garden Street at 4:30 pm and then proceeding to New World Landing, the site of the dinner.
We will be joined by other concerned citizens of Florida that do not like the direction our education and other public sector services are headed. It is imperative that we have a strong showing.
We will be joined by other concerned citizens of Florida that do not like the direction our education and other public sector services are headed. It is imperative that we have a strong showing.
FEA Frontline Report: Day 18 of the 2011 Legislative Session
House Committee passes sweeping FRS ‘reform’ bill
Why do we need public employee pension reform? According to Rep. Ritch Workman (R- Melbourne) it’s because “60 will be the new 30!” That’s GREAT news! Let’s party like it’s 1999! Actually — that would be 1981 since the Representative just knocked 30 years off our age! Workman suggested that this startling fact was the reason behind raising the retirement age and years of service requirement. Best reason we’ve heard so far for massively reforming the stable, secure, Florida Retirement System (FRS). Far better than the reality behind this bill.
Let’s be honest, no matter how much Botox we can inject and how many days we hit the treadmill, HB 1405 is not about our youthfulness. It’s about disguising a tax on working families to balance the state budget. It has nothing to do with the stability of the FRS. It is about balancing the state budget.
The House State Affairs Committee passed HB 1405 by Rep. Workman by a party line vote of 13 to 6, with all Republicans voting for the bill and all Democrats against.
The bill was significantly amended by what is called a “strike-all” amendment (which was not available electronically at the time this report was written). The bill now:
· Requires a 3 percent employee contribution rate
· Closes DROP to new participants effective July 1, 2011
· Increases the retirement age and years of service for members of FRS who initially enroll on or after July 1, 2011. The change in age and years of service does not apply to any person who is currently a member of the FRS – only new hires.
· Does NOT eliminate the retiree health insurance subsidy
At the same time they are demanding that public employees “share the pain,” they are looking at giving corporations more tax breaks. If passed, this bill will mandate that public employees “contribute” between $750 and $3,000 of their annual paychecks to pay into their pension.
“We don’t like to use the word ‘tax’ around here. Well tax, tax, tax, tax, tax, tax, tax! This is a TAX,” Rep. Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) proclaimed. HB 1405 is a hefty income tax on teachers, ESPs, police, firefighters and other public employees, plain and simple.
The next stop for this bill is the House Appropriations Committee – no date for the hearing has been released at this time.
Thanks to our brave members Nancy McDonald, Sheila Young, B Grassel, and Ana Ciereszko for testifying before the committee against the FRS changes!
Senate Appropriations
Here’s the best summary of budget plans we could find: After questioning the need for public employee pension reform during this week’s Senate Appropriations meeting, Sen. Paula Dockery (R- Lakeland) was quoted "At the end of the day, we're not strengthening the fund, we're balancing the budget. If we're doing it to strengthen the fund, that's a legitimate reason. If we're doing it to balance the budget, I'm not so sure that's a legitimate reason."
We’re back to a familiar theme of balancing the state budget on the backs of those who can least afford it -- the elderly, the sick, the poor and public employees. Here’s the skinny:
· about $1 billion in cuts to public schools
· Per pupil funding cut of $423 ($6,811 per-pupil would fall to about $6,388)
· about $678.6 million less in state spending on public pension benefits through mandating a 3% of salary employee contribution to the FRS pension plan
As one news report put it “despite the Tallahassee spin, lawmakers are making the changes to balance the budget not reform the pension system, and paying teachers less -- whether the hit is absorbed through less of a state-funded contribution toward retirement, or a flat-out 3 percent cut to teacher salaries -- is a means to an end.”
Budget process countdown begins
The House will release its version of the General Appropriations Act and Implementing bills on Friday morning (March 24). The Senate will release its version on Monday March 28 in the evening. They will begin hearing the bills in committee March 30 in the House and March 31 in the Senate. Finally, the bills will be heard on the House and Senate floors on April 6 with debate and final passage on Thursday, April, 7.
Union Gag bill poised for House floor vote
Today Rep. Chris Dorworth (R-Heathrow) presented HB 1021 on the floor of the House. Debate and final vote will come on Friday (March 25). This is the bill would prohibit automatic payroll deductions from public employees’ paychecks for union dues and purposes of political activity. That means it would prohibit dues deductions through the traditional mechanisms established for educational employers. As you may recall, this is the House version of SB 830 sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher(R-Jacksonville).
Why do we need public employee pension reform? According to Rep. Ritch Workman (R- Melbourne) it’s because “60 will be the new 30!” That’s GREAT news! Let’s party like it’s 1999! Actually — that would be 1981 since the Representative just knocked 30 years off our age! Workman suggested that this startling fact was the reason behind raising the retirement age and years of service requirement. Best reason we’ve heard so far for massively reforming the stable, secure, Florida Retirement System (FRS). Far better than the reality behind this bill.
Let’s be honest, no matter how much Botox we can inject and how many days we hit the treadmill, HB 1405 is not about our youthfulness. It’s about disguising a tax on working families to balance the state budget. It has nothing to do with the stability of the FRS. It is about balancing the state budget.
The House State Affairs Committee passed HB 1405 by Rep. Workman by a party line vote of 13 to 6, with all Republicans voting for the bill and all Democrats against.
The bill was significantly amended by what is called a “strike-all” amendment (which was not available electronically at the time this report was written). The bill now:
· Requires a 3 percent employee contribution rate
· Closes DROP to new participants effective July 1, 2011
· Increases the retirement age and years of service for members of FRS who initially enroll on or after July 1, 2011. The change in age and years of service does not apply to any person who is currently a member of the FRS – only new hires.
· Does NOT eliminate the retiree health insurance subsidy
At the same time they are demanding that public employees “share the pain,” they are looking at giving corporations more tax breaks. If passed, this bill will mandate that public employees “contribute” between $750 and $3,000 of their annual paychecks to pay into their pension.
“We don’t like to use the word ‘tax’ around here. Well tax, tax, tax, tax, tax, tax, tax! This is a TAX,” Rep. Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) proclaimed. HB 1405 is a hefty income tax on teachers, ESPs, police, firefighters and other public employees, plain and simple.
The next stop for this bill is the House Appropriations Committee – no date for the hearing has been released at this time.
Thanks to our brave members Nancy McDonald, Sheila Young, B Grassel, and Ana Ciereszko for testifying before the committee against the FRS changes!
Senate Appropriations
Here’s the best summary of budget plans we could find: After questioning the need for public employee pension reform during this week’s Senate Appropriations meeting, Sen. Paula Dockery (R- Lakeland) was quoted "At the end of the day, we're not strengthening the fund, we're balancing the budget. If we're doing it to strengthen the fund, that's a legitimate reason. If we're doing it to balance the budget, I'm not so sure that's a legitimate reason."
We’re back to a familiar theme of balancing the state budget on the backs of those who can least afford it -- the elderly, the sick, the poor and public employees. Here’s the skinny:
· about $1 billion in cuts to public schools
· Per pupil funding cut of $423 ($6,811 per-pupil would fall to about $6,388)
· about $678.6 million less in state spending on public pension benefits through mandating a 3% of salary employee contribution to the FRS pension plan
As one news report put it “despite the Tallahassee spin, lawmakers are making the changes to balance the budget not reform the pension system, and paying teachers less -- whether the hit is absorbed through less of a state-funded contribution toward retirement, or a flat-out 3 percent cut to teacher salaries -- is a means to an end.”
Budget process countdown begins
The House will release its version of the General Appropriations Act and Implementing bills on Friday morning (March 24). The Senate will release its version on Monday March 28 in the evening. They will begin hearing the bills in committee March 30 in the House and March 31 in the Senate. Finally, the bills will be heard on the House and Senate floors on April 6 with debate and final passage on Thursday, April, 7.
Union Gag bill poised for House floor vote
Today Rep. Chris Dorworth (R-Heathrow) presented HB 1021 on the floor of the House. Debate and final vote will come on Friday (March 25). This is the bill would prohibit automatic payroll deductions from public employees’ paychecks for union dues and purposes of political activity. That means it would prohibit dues deductions through the traditional mechanisms established for educational employers. As you may recall, this is the House version of SB 830 sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher(R-Jacksonville).
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Fight Back Florida Rally: March 25
On Friday March 25th Governor Rick Scott is set to appear at a fundraiser at New World Landing hosted by Escambia Republican Executive Committee. The Northwest Central Labor Council will be marching and rallying to protest Rick Scott and his abhorrent budget cuts he has planned for Florida. Organized labor won't be alone. Our allies from Movement for Change, Escambia Democrats, Santa Rosa Democrats, Veterans for Peace, U.W.F Progressive Student Alliance, and the Coffee Party will be marching in solidarity with our union brother and sisters to bring our bottom line to Rick Scott and legislators- we won't stand for these budget cuts and anti-worker bills that will affect teachers, public workers, health care workers, first responders, the unemployed and students!
So spread the word about this march and rally! The time to fight back is here and we need to show Rick Scott and legislators we are united as one and will not back down until the working class has smashed these anti-worker, pro-corporate bills! Let's get out there Friday and let them know that they will not silence, we will not be "gagged" by their corporatist agenda to further the interests of the corporate class!
If you are interested in volunteering to help out with marshaling, distributing literature, gathering information, please email me back and confirm. Also, please email me back to confirm that you will be attending so we can have an accurate count of participants.
Make sure to wear comfortable clothing, bring water, and have sunscreen as we will be marching several blocks.
WHAT: Fight Back Florida: March and Rally to protest Rick Scott at New World Landing
WHEN: Friday March 25th starting at 4:30 P.M., meet up will be at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza where Garden Street and Palafox intersect
WHERE: New World Landing, downtown Pensacola, 600 S Palafox Street
So spread the word about this march and rally! The time to fight back is here and we need to show Rick Scott and legislators we are united as one and will not back down until the working class has smashed these anti-worker, pro-corporate bills! Let's get out there Friday and let them know that they will not silence, we will not be "gagged" by their corporatist agenda to further the interests of the corporate class!
If you are interested in volunteering to help out with marshaling, distributing literature, gathering information, please email me back and confirm. Also, please email me back to confirm that you will be attending so we can have an accurate count of participants.
Make sure to wear comfortable clothing, bring water, and have sunscreen as we will be marching several blocks.
WHAT: Fight Back Florida: March and Rally to protest Rick Scott at New World Landing
WHEN: Friday March 25th starting at 4:30 P.M., meet up will be at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza where Garden Street and Palafox intersect
WHERE: New World Landing, downtown Pensacola, 600 S Palafox Street
Sign Making Party for Upcoming Protests
First, I want to let everyone know that we will be having a sign making party this Thursday. We'll be putting together signs for the rally and march on the 25th to protest Rick Scott at New World Landing. Feel free to drop on by, for we need all who can help out in this effort.
WHERE: Escambia Education Association hall
WHEN: March 24th from 4:30 P.M. until we're done with signs
ADDRESS: 6551 North Palafox Street
Pensacola, FL 32503
Second, we're escalating our legislative actions here in Pensacola. We're going to start making daily visits to district offices and tell them what we think about SB 830 (the gag bill) so they can inform legislators in Tallahassee that they will not silence us. So, I am going to need some volunteers to help out so we can start these district office visits. Please contact me with your information and your commitment. I can give you the pertinent information preceding the visits.
Thanks!
F. Lee Pryor
Mobilization Coordinator
FL AFL-CIO
WHERE: Escambia Education Association hall
WHEN: March 24th from 4:30 P.M. until we're done with signs
ADDRESS: 6551 North Palafox Street
Pensacola, FL 32503
Second, we're escalating our legislative actions here in Pensacola. We're going to start making daily visits to district offices and tell them what we think about SB 830 (the gag bill) so they can inform legislators in Tallahassee that they will not silence us. So, I am going to need some volunteers to help out so we can start these district office visits. Please contact me with your information and your commitment. I can give you the pertinent information preceding the visits.
Thanks!
F. Lee Pryor
Mobilization Coordinator
FL AFL-CIO
Buses to Rally in Tallahassee
Hello everyone,
ATU 1395 will have 50 seats available for buses for the rally in Tally on Tuesday, March 29th. If you plan on attending, please contact me back with your information no later than Friday, March 25th so I can get the information back to the good folks at ATU. I need to have solid commitments to give back to ATU so everything will be set for procuring and seating. I know some of you have inquired about the buses leaving out already. If you live in the Pensacola area and need a ride to the IBEW hall where the buses will be leaving from, we can arrange a ride so you can get on the bus. Please contact me as soon as possible.
Let's get these seats filled and make it out to Tallahassee next Tuesday to let Rick Scott, senators, and house representatives we won't let these bills pass!
F. Lee Pryor
Mobilization Coordinator
FL AFL-CIO
(850) 380-9761
flpryor36@gmail.com
ATU 1395 will have 50 seats available for buses for the rally in Tally on Tuesday, March 29th. If you plan on attending, please contact me back with your information no later than Friday, March 25th so I can get the information back to the good folks at ATU. I need to have solid commitments to give back to ATU so everything will be set for procuring and seating. I know some of you have inquired about the buses leaving out already. If you live in the Pensacola area and need a ride to the IBEW hall where the buses will be leaving from, we can arrange a ride so you can get on the bus. Please contact me as soon as possible.
Let's get these seats filled and make it out to Tallahassee next Tuesday to let Rick Scott, senators, and house representatives we won't let these bills pass!
F. Lee Pryor
Mobilization Coordinator
FL AFL-CIO
(850) 380-9761
flpryor36@gmail.com
Monday, March 21, 2011
Stop House Bill 1021 - Important Vote - Action Needed
Please call 888-640-1338 and express your opposition to House Bill 1021!
The politicians in Tallahassee are trying to silence your voice!
The members of the House Appropriations committee in Tallahassee are scheduled to vote on a bill this Monday, March 21 at 12:15 p.m. which would dramatically affect the ability of your union to represent you and make your voice heard. This bill is one of several union attack bills being jammed through the legislature.
House Bill 1021 specifically targets public sector unions… particularly those that represent public school employees, police officers and fire fighters.
The bill would strip public sector unions of the right to have a voice in government but still allow groups like the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the big corporations they represent, the right to participate in the political process.
This is union busting—pure and simple.
At a time when creating jobs should be the main focus of the legislature, the politicians seem focused on destroying the organizations that represent public employees. They want to be sure that when they do things --like try to tax our pensions-- that we are unable to respond and fight back.
Please call 888-640-1338 and your call will be routed to a legislator on this committee. Please tell the person that answers the phone:
“I strongly oppose House Bill 1021. The Legislature should not tell citizens or organizations how to spend our money.”
The politicians in Tallahassee are trying to silence your voice!
The members of the House Appropriations committee in Tallahassee are scheduled to vote on a bill this Monday, March 21 at 12:15 p.m. which would dramatically affect the ability of your union to represent you and make your voice heard. This bill is one of several union attack bills being jammed through the legislature.
House Bill 1021 specifically targets public sector unions… particularly those that represent public school employees, police officers and fire fighters.
The bill would strip public sector unions of the right to have a voice in government but still allow groups like the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the big corporations they represent, the right to participate in the political process.
This is union busting—pure and simple.
At a time when creating jobs should be the main focus of the legislature, the politicians seem focused on destroying the organizations that represent public employees. They want to be sure that when they do things --like try to tax our pensions-- that we are unable to respond and fight back.
Please call 888-640-1338 and your call will be routed to a legislator on this committee. Please tell the person that answers the phone:
“I strongly oppose House Bill 1021. The Legislature should not tell citizens or organizations how to spend our money.”
Friday, March 18, 2011
Take Action on Senate Bill 830: Payroll Dues Deduction
Senate Bill 830, the bill which will strip the union's rights to have our members dues taken out of their paychecks, has been sent out of its original committee and rerouted to the Senate Budget Committee. A pretty tactless effort to skirt around our attempts at preventing this legislation from becoming law. We will not be undone though, we need to start calling every single member below, every single day, to get our message across to this new group of legislators.
Please call 1-877-274-0951 and put in the zip code for each corresponding state senator and tell them to vote NO on SB 830.
Chair:
Senator JD Alexander (R) D-17 -- Zip: 33853
Vice Chair:
Senator Joe Negron (R) D-28 -- Zip: 34990
Senator Thad Altman (R) D-24 -- Zip: 32940
Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R) D-27 -- Zip: 33414
Senator Ellyn Setnor Bogdanoff (R) D-25 -- Zip: 33316
Senator Mike Fasano (R) D-11 -- Zip: 34653
Senator Anitere Flores (R) D-38 -- Zip: 33176
Senator Don Gaetz (R) D-4 -- Zip: 32541
Senator Alan Hays (R) D-20 -- Zip: 32784
Senator Arthenia L. Joyner (D) D-18 -- 33603
Senator Evelyn J. Lynn (R) D-7 -- Zip: 32118
Senator Gwen Margolis (D) D-35 -- Zip: 33137
Senator Bill Montford (D) D-6 -- Zip: 32399
Senator Nan H. Rich (D) D-34 -- Zip: 33325
Senator Garrett Richter (R) D-37 -- Zip: 34112
Senator David Simmons (R) D-22 -- Zip: 32701
Senator Gary Siplin (D) D-19 -- Zip: 32808
Senator Eleanor Sobel (D) D-31 -- Zip: 33020
Senator John Thrasher (R) D-8 -- Zip: 32225
Senator Stephen R. Wise (R) D-5 -- Zip: 32205
Please call 1-877-274-0951 and put in the zip code for each corresponding state senator and tell them to vote NO on SB 830.
Chair:
Senator JD Alexander (R) D-17 -- Zip: 33853
Vice Chair:
Senator Joe Negron (R) D-28 -- Zip: 34990
Senator Thad Altman (R) D-24 -- Zip: 32940
Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R) D-27 -- Zip: 33414
Senator Ellyn Setnor Bogdanoff (R) D-25 -- Zip: 33316
Senator Mike Fasano (R) D-11 -- Zip: 34653
Senator Anitere Flores (R) D-38 -- Zip: 33176
Senator Don Gaetz (R) D-4 -- Zip: 32541
Senator Alan Hays (R) D-20 -- Zip: 32784
Senator Arthenia L. Joyner (D) D-18 -- 33603
Senator Evelyn J. Lynn (R) D-7 -- Zip: 32118
Senator Gwen Margolis (D) D-35 -- Zip: 33137
Senator Bill Montford (D) D-6 -- Zip: 32399
Senator Nan H. Rich (D) D-34 -- Zip: 33325
Senator Garrett Richter (R) D-37 -- Zip: 34112
Senator David Simmons (R) D-22 -- Zip: 32701
Senator Gary Siplin (D) D-19 -- Zip: 32808
Senator Eleanor Sobel (D) D-31 -- Zip: 33020
Senator John Thrasher (R) D-8 -- Zip: 32225
Senator Stephen R. Wise (R) D-5 -- Zip: 32205
Plan would raise retirement age, add pension payment
By Mary Ellen Klas and Jodie Tillman, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
In Print: Friday, March 18, 2011
TALLAHASSEE — A House committee rewrote Gov. Rick Scott's pension reform plan Thursday by raising the retirement age of all workers, including police officers and firefighters, and rejecting his call for ending defined pensions for new workers.
But the House Governmental Operations Committee approved a bill that includes Scott's proposal to require public employees to pay 5 percent of their salary to cover part of their pension costs, a move lawmakers say will save state and local governments an estimated $720 million a year. The state now pays all pension costs.
The bill did not include Scott's plan to eliminate cost-of-living adjustments for all retirees. Instead, the committee voted to lengthen the time police, firefighters and other special-risk employees work before they can retire from 25 to 30 years, or from age 55 to age 60, whichever comes sooner. For everyone else, the retirement age would rise from age 60 to age 62 years, or after 33 years of service instead of 30.
The Republican-dominated committee approved the bill along a party-line vote, despite warnings from law enforcement and firefighters who said that requiring them to work longer in high-risk jobs before they draw their retirement will endanger the public.
"Our governor has made it clear, and rightly so, that pension reform is needed and it is needed now," said Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach. "It's time for public pension plans to look more like private pension plans."
Opponents challenged that conclusion and suggested that the motive for the proposed pension changes was to fill the state's $3.6 billion budget deficit on the backs of public employees.
"I think it is patently unfair to talk about how we want to be more like the private sector but we only want to be like the private sector in one small area —because that's what allows us to cut," said Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth. He called the bill a "salary tax" and suggested the state could save just as much money by closing tax loopholes.
The bill, by Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, mirrors the portion of Scott's plan to get public employees to take what amounts to a pay cut by requiring they pay part of their pension costs. The bill also excludes Scott's proposal to change retirement plans for university employees and his elimination of the deferred retirement program, known as DROP.
While the proposal could save the state money, it also will cost an estimated $414,000 in additional administrative costs and will lead to unknown liabilities as state workers leave the state work force and take their pension contributions with them.
Rep. Marlene O'Toole, R-the Villages, who sponsored the amendment to lengthen the retirement age, said there already are more than 6,400 police and fire employees who are eligible to retire at 55 but have stayed on past their retirement age.
Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, warned that the salary cut to the 655,000 teachers, firefighters, police, judges and administrative workers would siphon $720 million from the Florida economy.
"There are 720 million reasons why we shouldn't support this bill," he said.
In the Senate, the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee has approved a pension overhaul that limits employee pension contributions to 2 percent of salary for employees making over $40,000 and 4 percent for employees making more than $75,000.
Meanwhile, cities and counties who overpromised and underfunded their public pension accounts would get an injection of cash to repair their ailing programs under a pension reform bill passed Thursday before the Senate Governmental Oversight Committee. That committee voted to allow local governments to use revenue from the insurance premium tax and accumulated excesses to pay their unfunded liabilities.
The committee amended an earlier version of the bill and lifted a ban on local governments from offering defined benefit plans. It also allowed some employees to continue to use accrued sick leave or annual leave in the calculation of retirement benefits.
A number of union representatives said the amendments had improved the bill but they continued their opposition to the plan, including a cap on the number of overtime hours that can be used to calculate retirement benefits. The committee set the cap at 300 hours.
Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at meklas@miamiherald.com.
In Print: Friday, March 18, 2011
TALLAHASSEE — A House committee rewrote Gov. Rick Scott's pension reform plan Thursday by raising the retirement age of all workers, including police officers and firefighters, and rejecting his call for ending defined pensions for new workers.
But the House Governmental Operations Committee approved a bill that includes Scott's proposal to require public employees to pay 5 percent of their salary to cover part of their pension costs, a move lawmakers say will save state and local governments an estimated $720 million a year. The state now pays all pension costs.
The bill did not include Scott's plan to eliminate cost-of-living adjustments for all retirees. Instead, the committee voted to lengthen the time police, firefighters and other special-risk employees work before they can retire from 25 to 30 years, or from age 55 to age 60, whichever comes sooner. For everyone else, the retirement age would rise from age 60 to age 62 years, or after 33 years of service instead of 30.
The Republican-dominated committee approved the bill along a party-line vote, despite warnings from law enforcement and firefighters who said that requiring them to work longer in high-risk jobs before they draw their retirement will endanger the public.
"Our governor has made it clear, and rightly so, that pension reform is needed and it is needed now," said Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach. "It's time for public pension plans to look more like private pension plans."
Opponents challenged that conclusion and suggested that the motive for the proposed pension changes was to fill the state's $3.6 billion budget deficit on the backs of public employees.
"I think it is patently unfair to talk about how we want to be more like the private sector but we only want to be like the private sector in one small area —because that's what allows us to cut," said Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth. He called the bill a "salary tax" and suggested the state could save just as much money by closing tax loopholes.
The bill, by Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, mirrors the portion of Scott's plan to get public employees to take what amounts to a pay cut by requiring they pay part of their pension costs. The bill also excludes Scott's proposal to change retirement plans for university employees and his elimination of the deferred retirement program, known as DROP.
While the proposal could save the state money, it also will cost an estimated $414,000 in additional administrative costs and will lead to unknown liabilities as state workers leave the state work force and take their pension contributions with them.
Rep. Marlene O'Toole, R-the Villages, who sponsored the amendment to lengthen the retirement age, said there already are more than 6,400 police and fire employees who are eligible to retire at 55 but have stayed on past their retirement age.
Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, warned that the salary cut to the 655,000 teachers, firefighters, police, judges and administrative workers would siphon $720 million from the Florida economy.
"There are 720 million reasons why we shouldn't support this bill," he said.
In the Senate, the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee has approved a pension overhaul that limits employee pension contributions to 2 percent of salary for employees making over $40,000 and 4 percent for employees making more than $75,000.
Meanwhile, cities and counties who overpromised and underfunded their public pension accounts would get an injection of cash to repair their ailing programs under a pension reform bill passed Thursday before the Senate Governmental Oversight Committee. That committee voted to allow local governments to use revenue from the insurance premium tax and accumulated excesses to pay their unfunded liabilities.
The committee amended an earlier version of the bill and lifted a ban on local governments from offering defined benefit plans. It also allowed some employees to continue to use accrued sick leave or annual leave in the calculation of retirement benefits.
A number of union representatives said the amendments had improved the bill but they continued their opposition to the plan, including a cap on the number of overtime hours that can be used to calculate retirement benefits. The committee set the cap at 300 hours.
Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at meklas@miamiherald.com.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Buses to Tallahassee on March 29 and April 7
Lee Prior, our local mobilization coordinator for the ALF-CIO, has extended the invitation below to our members. If you are interested in joining the protests in Tallahassee, please contact him.
Greetings everyone,
On March 29th, AFSCME will have buses going to Tallahassee. They have 20 seats to fill. And, April 7th ATU will have buses going to Tallahassee and will need to fill 100 seats. We need solid commitments for both dates to the capitol. Please contact me back with your name and information if you can attend either March 29th or April 7th or both events. We need an accurate number count and information on those who can go.
Thanks!
In solidarity,
F. Lee Pryor
Mobilization Coordinator
FL AFL-CIO
flpryor36@gmail.com
(850) 380-9761
Greetings everyone,
On March 29th, AFSCME will have buses going to Tallahassee. They have 20 seats to fill. And, April 7th ATU will have buses going to Tallahassee and will need to fill 100 seats. We need solid commitments for both dates to the capitol. Please contact me back with your name and information if you can attend either March 29th or April 7th or both events. We need an accurate number count and information on those who can go.
Thanks!
In solidarity,
F. Lee Pryor
Mobilization Coordinator
FL AFL-CIO
flpryor36@gmail.com
(850) 380-9761
Legislature Acts Recklessly in Approving So-called Teacher Quality Legislation
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Education Association condemned the House passage today of SB 736, the so-called Teacher Quality bill, and said there was little difference in this legislation and the widely panned SB 6 that Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed last year. The legislation sets up a performance pay system based on student test results, evaluates teachers on those test scores and eliminates due-process rights for all new teachers and any existing teacher who enters the performance pay system or moves to a different school district.
“There’s no research evidence that this legislation will help our children in public schools,” said FEA President Andy Ford. “We’ve looked closely at plenty of scientifically sound, peer reviewed research out there that shows this is the wrong approach to take to implement performance pay and to revamp evaluations.”
Ford cited research done over the past six months by 17 outstanding Florida teachers and Barnett Berry, the president and CEO of the non-profit Center for Teaching Quality (see report at http://www.teachingquality.org/node/1202), They examined the results of more than 30 of the most significant scientific investigations into teaching effectiveness and performance pay and questioned experts in the field. They found that implementation of SB 736 would lead to thousands of effective Florida teachers being falsely branded and leading to unfair decisions about pay and employment and worst of all, lost educational opportunity for the state’s schoolchildren.
The bill, which would rate teachers based on the learning gains the state determines students make on standardized tests, greatly expands the number and scope of these tests students take every year. It will cost millions of dollars to develop and implement these new tests, but the Legislature sets aside no money to do this.
“Schools have seen steep budget cuts over the past four years and all indications are that they will face the most drastic budget cuts yet next school year,” Ford said. “But lawmakers have added this new fiscal burden to already struggling school districts. This additional burden will have to be made up somewhere – and we fear there will be more students in each classroom and a great many programs will be curtailed or eliminated in our public schools.”
While districts are not required to fund performance pay until 2014, they must immediately begin developing and implementing hundreds of additional FCAT-style tests and the new evaluation systems this year. Some estimates say the total cost of new tests, technology and software could be more than $2 billion, yet the Legislature provided no new funding and is likely to slash school district budgets this session.
“Despite the mantra about local control and less government we hear from lawmakers, this bill reduces a school district’s flexibility and authority over teacher evaluations, pay schedules and working conditions,” Ford said. “This bill gives new power and authority to the Florida Department of Education and the Legislature. It’s not good for students, it’s not good for teachers and it’s not grounded in sound research. Governor Scott should veto this bill and tell lawmakers to start over and get it right.”
Backers of this bill say it ends tenure for Florida’s public school teachers. In fact, that ended in 1982, when the Legislature abolished it. What has existed since 1982 is that teachers had due process rights and the chance to improve their performance before they were dismissed. SB 736 will end that practice and threatens to make teachers more vulnerable to unfair dismissal.
“There’s no research evidence that this legislation will help our children in public schools,” said FEA President Andy Ford. “We’ve looked closely at plenty of scientifically sound, peer reviewed research out there that shows this is the wrong approach to take to implement performance pay and to revamp evaluations.”
Ford cited research done over the past six months by 17 outstanding Florida teachers and Barnett Berry, the president and CEO of the non-profit Center for Teaching Quality (see report at http://www.teachingquality.org/node/1202), They examined the results of more than 30 of the most significant scientific investigations into teaching effectiveness and performance pay and questioned experts in the field. They found that implementation of SB 736 would lead to thousands of effective Florida teachers being falsely branded and leading to unfair decisions about pay and employment and worst of all, lost educational opportunity for the state’s schoolchildren.
The bill, which would rate teachers based on the learning gains the state determines students make on standardized tests, greatly expands the number and scope of these tests students take every year. It will cost millions of dollars to develop and implement these new tests, but the Legislature sets aside no money to do this.
“Schools have seen steep budget cuts over the past four years and all indications are that they will face the most drastic budget cuts yet next school year,” Ford said. “But lawmakers have added this new fiscal burden to already struggling school districts. This additional burden will have to be made up somewhere – and we fear there will be more students in each classroom and a great many programs will be curtailed or eliminated in our public schools.”
While districts are not required to fund performance pay until 2014, they must immediately begin developing and implementing hundreds of additional FCAT-style tests and the new evaluation systems this year. Some estimates say the total cost of new tests, technology and software could be more than $2 billion, yet the Legislature provided no new funding and is likely to slash school district budgets this session.
“Despite the mantra about local control and less government we hear from lawmakers, this bill reduces a school district’s flexibility and authority over teacher evaluations, pay schedules and working conditions,” Ford said. “This bill gives new power and authority to the Florida Department of Education and the Legislature. It’s not good for students, it’s not good for teachers and it’s not grounded in sound research. Governor Scott should veto this bill and tell lawmakers to start over and get it right.”
Backers of this bill say it ends tenure for Florida’s public school teachers. In fact, that ended in 1982, when the Legislature abolished it. What has existed since 1982 is that teachers had due process rights and the chance to improve their performance before they were dismissed. SB 736 will end that practice and threatens to make teachers more vulnerable to unfair dismissal.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Take Action NOW: Senate Bill 736 and House Bill 7019
Vote NO on Senate Bill 736 and House Bill 7019
Last week, the Florida Senate passed Senate Bill 736 which is a new version of SB 6.
Unfortunately, this bill has many of the same problems as Senate Bill 6:
•This Legislation will require the state and our local school districts to spend millions developing new FCAT style tests and evaluation systems but provides NO new funding to pay for these systems.
•It effectively ties all future pay increases to test scores and requires ALL teachers to sign away their due process rights and agree to work on a year to year contract IF they want to be eligible for a pay raise.
Florida schools are facing the most devastating budgets cuts our state has ever seen.
Districts are being forced to close schools and cut programs.
Education employees are expected to face salary rollbacks, furloughs, layoffs and cuts in their benefits.
We don't need Tallahassee to impose another $2 billion dollar unfunded mandate at a time when our schools and our school employees can least afford it. And we should not be punishing our teachers when our schools are doing better than ever.
The Florida House of Representatives is expected to cast a final vote on this bill as early as Wednesday of next week.
Please call (888) 640-1338 and enter your zip code to be connected to your legislator.
Last week, the Florida Senate passed Senate Bill 736 which is a new version of SB 6.
Unfortunately, this bill has many of the same problems as Senate Bill 6:
•This Legislation will require the state and our local school districts to spend millions developing new FCAT style tests and evaluation systems but provides NO new funding to pay for these systems.
•It effectively ties all future pay increases to test scores and requires ALL teachers to sign away their due process rights and agree to work on a year to year contract IF they want to be eligible for a pay raise.
Florida schools are facing the most devastating budgets cuts our state has ever seen.
Districts are being forced to close schools and cut programs.
Education employees are expected to face salary rollbacks, furloughs, layoffs and cuts in their benefits.
We don't need Tallahassee to impose another $2 billion dollar unfunded mandate at a time when our schools and our school employees can least afford it. And we should not be punishing our teachers when our schools are doing better than ever.
The Florida House of Representatives is expected to cast a final vote on this bill as early as Wednesday of next week.
Please call (888) 640-1338 and enter your zip code to be connected to your legislator.
Union Bill Limps Through Senate Panel
by John Kennedy | March 14th, 2011
A measure pushed by the state’s former Republican Party chairman which creates major roadblocks on the political activity of Democratic-allied unions, was narrowly approved Monday by a Senate committee.
Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who last year led the state’s GOP in campaigns which tightened the party’s grip on power in Florida, said the measure is designed to “empower unions,” while also severing the role of state and local governments in collecting union payroll deductions.
“I frankly don’t understand the concerns,” Thrasher said, after a parade of union representatives testified before the Senate Community Affairs Committee against the bill (CS/SB 830).
The panel approve the measure 5-4, with Republican Sens. Paula Dockery of Lakeland and Jim Norman of Tampa joining a pair of Democrats in opposition.
“This is nothing more than an attempt to eradicate the voice of union members,” said Jeff McAdams, a union representative for the Gainesville Police Department and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
The legislation would make it more difficult for unions to draw financing by barring state or local governments, including school boards, from deducting or collecting union dues, ending what has been a common practice for decades.
It also would allow any public employee who didn’t specifically authorize how deductions are used to demand a partial refund of any political spending.
Union representatives testified virtually unanimously against the measure. Florida business groups, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce and National Federation of Independent Business, lined up in support of the measure.
Thrasher, whose Democratic opponent last fall was strongly backed by the Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, insisted there was nothing personal — or political in the bill.
“But I have heard from taxpayers,” Thrasher said. “They think these (government) resources should not be used to facilitate private political agendas.”
http://www.postonpolitics.com/2011/03/union-bill-limps-through-senate-panel/
Mark Pudlow, spokesman
Public Policy Advocacy
mark.pudlow@floridaea.org
NEA/AFT/AFL-CIO
A measure pushed by the state’s former Republican Party chairman which creates major roadblocks on the political activity of Democratic-allied unions, was narrowly approved Monday by a Senate committee.
Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who last year led the state’s GOP in campaigns which tightened the party’s grip on power in Florida, said the measure is designed to “empower unions,” while also severing the role of state and local governments in collecting union payroll deductions.
“I frankly don’t understand the concerns,” Thrasher said, after a parade of union representatives testified before the Senate Community Affairs Committee against the bill (CS/SB 830).
The panel approve the measure 5-4, with Republican Sens. Paula Dockery of Lakeland and Jim Norman of Tampa joining a pair of Democrats in opposition.
“This is nothing more than an attempt to eradicate the voice of union members,” said Jeff McAdams, a union representative for the Gainesville Police Department and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
The legislation would make it more difficult for unions to draw financing by barring state or local governments, including school boards, from deducting or collecting union dues, ending what has been a common practice for decades.
It also would allow any public employee who didn’t specifically authorize how deductions are used to demand a partial refund of any political spending.
Union representatives testified virtually unanimously against the measure. Florida business groups, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce and National Federation of Independent Business, lined up in support of the measure.
Thrasher, whose Democratic opponent last fall was strongly backed by the Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, insisted there was nothing personal — or political in the bill.
“But I have heard from taxpayers,” Thrasher said. “They think these (government) resources should not be used to facilitate private political agendas.”
http://www.postonpolitics.com/2011/03/union-bill-limps-through-senate-panel/
Mark Pudlow, spokesman
Public Policy Advocacy
mark.pudlow@floridaea.org
NEA/AFT/AFL-CIO
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Legislative Session Summary: Day 2
SB 736 ready for full Senate vote
Today SB 736 the so-called teacher quality bill was on the Senate Special Order Calendar – this means it was the first time the full senate heard the bill. Special Order Calendar is the list of bills on ‘second reading’ to be taken up in session on a particular day. Amendments and questions are allowed when a bill is in second reading – but no debate.
Sen. Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee) offered an amendment to preserve due process for teachers who will either lose or never have Professional Service Contracts. After lengthy debate, the amendment failed.
Democrats, and Republican Senators Jack Latvala (R-St. Petersburg) and Paula Dockery (R-Lakeland) asked some very tough questions of the bill’s sponsor Sen. Steve Wise (R-Jacksonville). Wise struggled to respond, and was unable to answer Dockery’s persistent question: “how much will it cost and how will this bill be paid for?”
The bill was placed on third reading which means it is ready for full Senate vote – we think tomorrow morning. At the time this report was written the Third Reading Calendar had not been released.
Thursday in Tallahassee
We have another fun filled day ahead of us in the Capitol! On the agenda in the legislature are:
· SB 736 the so-called ‘teacher quality’ bill will be debated and voted on by the full Senate
· SB 958 the TABOR amendment will be introduced on the floor of the Senate
· HB 1021 the House version of SB830 Union gag bill will be heard in the House State Affairs Committee
· HB 7019 the House version of SB 736 will be heard in the House Education Committee
· SB 1130 the Florida Retirement System reform bill will be heard in the Senate Government Oversight and Accountability Committee (there are 15 amendments going to be considered)
You can read the bills at:
SB 736 http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/0736/BillText/c2/PDF
HB 7019 http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/7019/BillText/Filed/PDF
SB 958 http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/0958/BillText/c1/PDF
HB 1021 http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/1021/BillText/Filed/PDF
SB 1130 http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/1021/BillText/Filed/PDF
Today SB 736 the so-called teacher quality bill was on the Senate Special Order Calendar – this means it was the first time the full senate heard the bill. Special Order Calendar is the list of bills on ‘second reading’ to be taken up in session on a particular day. Amendments and questions are allowed when a bill is in second reading – but no debate.
Sen. Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee) offered an amendment to preserve due process for teachers who will either lose or never have Professional Service Contracts. After lengthy debate, the amendment failed.
Democrats, and Republican Senators Jack Latvala (R-St. Petersburg) and Paula Dockery (R-Lakeland) asked some very tough questions of the bill’s sponsor Sen. Steve Wise (R-Jacksonville). Wise struggled to respond, and was unable to answer Dockery’s persistent question: “how much will it cost and how will this bill be paid for?”
The bill was placed on third reading which means it is ready for full Senate vote – we think tomorrow morning. At the time this report was written the Third Reading Calendar had not been released.
Thursday in Tallahassee
We have another fun filled day ahead of us in the Capitol! On the agenda in the legislature are:
· SB 736 the so-called ‘teacher quality’ bill will be debated and voted on by the full Senate
· SB 958 the TABOR amendment will be introduced on the floor of the Senate
· HB 1021 the House version of SB830 Union gag bill will be heard in the House State Affairs Committee
· HB 7019 the House version of SB 736 will be heard in the House Education Committee
· SB 1130 the Florida Retirement System reform bill will be heard in the Senate Government Oversight and Accountability Committee (there are 15 amendments going to be considered)
You can read the bills at:
SB 736 http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/0736/BillText/c2/PDF
HB 7019 http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/7019/BillText/Filed/PDF
SB 958 http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/0958/BillText/c1/PDF
HB 1021 http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/1021/BillText/Filed/PDF
SB 1130 http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/1021/BillText/Filed/PDF
Wisconsin Senate Strips Workers’ Collective Bargaining Rights
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel reacts
WASHINGTON—In a blatant abuse of power, Wisconsin Republican lawmakers dealt a blow to the working class tonight with passage of the anti-union provisions of Gov. Walker’s Budget Adjustment Bill on an 18-1 vote. No Democratic Senators were present. The bill strips collective bargaining rights for public workers. The Wisconsin Senate requires a quorum to take up any measures that spend money. But Republicans on Wednesday split from the legislation a proposal to curtail union rights, and a special conference committee of state lawmakers approved that bill a short time later.
“Wisconsin’s Republican lawmakers met in the dark of night, in a near-empty Capitol, and stretched their authority to the breaking point in an attempt to ram through legislation that the public does not support and that will harm thousands of the American working class,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “Its legality is dubious. Its intent is mean spirited. It is perhaps the most grievous example of how democratic decision making should not take place. The Governor and his legislative minions should be ashamed of what they’ve done.”
“In exercising the nuclear option to impose their will on Wisconsites, Governor Walker and Senate Republicans attacked middle class families, from students to seniors, in their state,” said Van Roekel. “This is an affront to teachers, nurses, students, firefighters, construction workers and other everyday people who stood up, spoke out, and learned how much their voice mattered to their elected leaders. The response will be unified and the collective voice of millions of working Americans from all across this nation will only grow louder.”
Van Roekel added, “Just listen to Brad Lutes, a physical education and health teacher in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. He summed it up: ‘We can’t be defeated. There’s not really an alternative. You can take away my collective bargaining rights. You can take away my pension and some of my health care, but the one thing you can’t take away from me is my vote. I think that’s how a large majority of Wisconsinites and Americans feel right now.’”
WASHINGTON—In a blatant abuse of power, Wisconsin Republican lawmakers dealt a blow to the working class tonight with passage of the anti-union provisions of Gov. Walker’s Budget Adjustment Bill on an 18-1 vote. No Democratic Senators were present. The bill strips collective bargaining rights for public workers. The Wisconsin Senate requires a quorum to take up any measures that spend money. But Republicans on Wednesday split from the legislation a proposal to curtail union rights, and a special conference committee of state lawmakers approved that bill a short time later.
“Wisconsin’s Republican lawmakers met in the dark of night, in a near-empty Capitol, and stretched their authority to the breaking point in an attempt to ram through legislation that the public does not support and that will harm thousands of the American working class,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “Its legality is dubious. Its intent is mean spirited. It is perhaps the most grievous example of how democratic decision making should not take place. The Governor and his legislative minions should be ashamed of what they’ve done.”
“In exercising the nuclear option to impose their will on Wisconsites, Governor Walker and Senate Republicans attacked middle class families, from students to seniors, in their state,” said Van Roekel. “This is an affront to teachers, nurses, students, firefighters, construction workers and other everyday people who stood up, spoke out, and learned how much their voice mattered to their elected leaders. The response will be unified and the collective voice of millions of working Americans from all across this nation will only grow louder.”
Van Roekel added, “Just listen to Brad Lutes, a physical education and health teacher in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. He summed it up: ‘We can’t be defeated. There’s not really an alternative. You can take away my collective bargaining rights. You can take away my pension and some of my health care, but the one thing you can’t take away from me is my vote. I think that’s how a large majority of Wisconsinites and Americans feel right now.’”
Call State Senators About FRS Bill
The Governor has proposed a 5% cut in your pay to cover expenses for pensions this year. If you are concerned about cuts in your paycheck to pay for pension expenses currently covered by the state of Florida, please call before 3:30pm on Thursday when the Senate Committee on Governerment Oversight and Accountability will vote on whether to start deducting money for this purpose.
After minimal faculty pay raises for years, it is not acceptable to cut our salaries by 5% (or however much is finally chosen) in order to balance the budget and to give corporations even greater tax breaks. It also hurts recruiting and retention (at a time everyone admits we have a "brain drain" in the state) to ignore the severe problem of salary compression in Florida, amounting to roughly $10,000 for each ten years a faculty member works here, and then to reduce other forms of compensation so there are NO reasons left for coming to or staying in Florida.
After 5:15 pm Thursday, there may be no other realistic opportunies to stop this from happening. Make a call. If you call Senators Latvala, Norman, or Fasano, thank them for proposing amendments to reduce the damage to us. If you call Senator Ring , Chair, speak your mind but be polite. One or two sentences is all any office will record as a message. Use an off-campus phone for your call.
Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability will meet Thursday to discuss and hear testimony on the FRS bill, SB 1130. The committee will meet from 3:15 to 5:15 pm in room 412 of the Knott building. You can view the meeting on The Florida Channel, if your cable provider carries it, or on the web at www.wfsu.org.
Please call today and tomorrow. Ask the Senators to vote AGAINST SB 1130 in its current form.
Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability
Chair:
Senator Jeremy Ring (D) (850) 487-5094
Vice Chair:
Senator Gary Siplin (D) (850) 487-5190
Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R) (850) 487-5356
Senator Ellyn Setnor Bogdanoff (R) (850) 487-5100
Senator Charles S. "Charlie" Dean, Sr. (R) (850) 487-5017
Senator Mike Fasano (R) (850) 487-5062
Senator Anitere Flores (R) (850) 487-5130
Senator Rene Garcia (R) (850) 487-5106
Senator Jack Latvala (R) (850) 487-5075
Senator Gwen Margolis (D) (850) 487-5121
Senator Bill Montford (D) (850) 487-5004
Senator Jim Norman (R) (850) 487-5068
Senator Stephen R. Wise (R) (850) 487-5027
The link to the committee page is:
http://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/GO/
After minimal faculty pay raises for years, it is not acceptable to cut our salaries by 5% (or however much is finally chosen) in order to balance the budget and to give corporations even greater tax breaks. It also hurts recruiting and retention (at a time everyone admits we have a "brain drain" in the state) to ignore the severe problem of salary compression in Florida, amounting to roughly $10,000 for each ten years a faculty member works here, and then to reduce other forms of compensation so there are NO reasons left for coming to or staying in Florida.
After 5:15 pm Thursday, there may be no other realistic opportunies to stop this from happening. Make a call. If you call Senators Latvala, Norman, or Fasano, thank them for proposing amendments to reduce the damage to us. If you call Senator Ring , Chair, speak your mind but be polite. One or two sentences is all any office will record as a message. Use an off-campus phone for your call.
Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability will meet Thursday to discuss and hear testimony on the FRS bill, SB 1130. The committee will meet from 3:15 to 5:15 pm in room 412 of the Knott building. You can view the meeting on The Florida Channel, if your cable provider carries it, or on the web at www.wfsu.org.
Please call today and tomorrow. Ask the Senators to vote AGAINST SB 1130 in its current form.
Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability
Chair:
Senator Jeremy Ring (D) (850) 487-5094
Vice Chair:
Senator Gary Siplin (D) (850) 487-5190
Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R) (850) 487-5356
Senator Ellyn Setnor Bogdanoff (R) (850) 487-5100
Senator Charles S. "Charlie" Dean, Sr. (R) (850) 487-5017
Senator Mike Fasano (R) (850) 487-5062
Senator Anitere Flores (R) (850) 487-5130
Senator Rene Garcia (R) (850) 487-5106
Senator Jack Latvala (R) (850) 487-5075
Senator Gwen Margolis (D) (850) 487-5121
Senator Bill Montford (D) (850) 487-5004
Senator Jim Norman (R) (850) 487-5068
Senator Stephen R. Wise (R) (850) 487-5027
The link to the committee page is:
http://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/GO/
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Government and Religion. A different viewpoint.
Scott Walker Believes He’s Following Orders from the Lord
By Matthew Rothschild, March 7, 2011
The Progressive
The dogmatic unwillingness of Wis. Gov. Scott Walker to negotiate or to compromise with Democrats or unions has surprised many people in the state. One explanation for his attitude may be found in his religious convictions.
In a talk to the Christian Businessmen’s Committee in Madison on November 13, 2009, Walker, who was raised by a Baptist preacher, spoke about his personal relationship with God, his “walk to Christ,” and his belief in the need to “trust and obey” the Lord.
He told the group that when he was thirteen, he committed himself to Jesus. “I said, ‘Lord, I’m ready . . . not just in front of my Church and the world but most importantly at the foot of your Throne, I’m ready to follow you each and every day. . . . I have just full out there said, ‘I’m going to trust in you Christ to tell me where to go. And to the best of my ability I’m going to obey where you lead me,’ and that has made all the difference in the world to me, for good times and bad.”
Walker said that God has told him what to do every step of the way, including about what jobs to take, whom to marry, and when to run for governor.
When he had first met his wife, he said, “That night I heard Christ tell me, ‘This is the person you’re going to be with.’ ”
He said he was trusting and obeying God when he took a job at IBM and then at the Red Cross. ““Lord, if this is what you want, I’ll try it,” he said. It was all about “trust and obey.”
Then he recalled how he got into the race for governor in 2006, only to withdraw, which he said was a difficult decision.
“My wife and I prayed on it,” he said. “I remember feeling so torn: I just didn’t want to let people down. I said, “Lord, I can’t do this. I can’t let people down.”
But he says he found divine guidance from the daily devotion, which “was about a guy who was a sailor. One of his buddies came along, they were in choppy waters, and the guy was throwing up. He was told, stop looking at the waves, find a point on the horizon. And he did this and it worked.”
Walker explains the meaning: “I was focused all too much on the choppy waters of my life, about how uneasy it would be to look people in the face. I wasn’t trusting and obeying my Savior. That morning Christ said to me through that devotion, ‘This is what you’re going to do. Look at me. Find that point on the horizon, and you’re going to be just fine.’ ”
He added: “God had a plan further down the road. Little did I know I just had to trust in Christ and obey what he calls me to do and that was going to work out.”
He then qualified that statement a little: “I don’t mean that means it’s going to work out for a win. . . . I don’t believe God picks sides in politics. I believe God calls us to be on His side.”
He urged everyone in the room “to turn your life over 100 percent to what Christ tells you what to do.”
Once you do that, he said, your life will be complete:
“The way to be complete in life is to fully and unconditionally turn your life over to Christ as your personal lord and savior and to make sure that every step of every day is one that you trust and obey, and keep looking out to the horizon to the path that Christ is calling you to follow and know that ultimately he’s going to take you home both here at home and ultimately far beyond.”
Fourteen months later, at his inaugural prayer breakfast, Walker said, “The Great Creator, no matter who you worship, is the one from which our freedoms are derived, not the government.”
Walker’s views disturb Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
“It is frightening that the highest executive in our state suffers from the delusion that God dictates his every move,” she says. “Consider the personal and historic devastation inflicted by fanatics who think they are acting in the name of their deity.”
Rally March 11: Senator Evers' Office
Join us March 11 from 4-6 for the second Awake the State rally. The rally will be held at Senator Greg Evers' office, 5224 Willing Street, Milton. This event is being sponsored by the Central Labor Council of Northwest Florida.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Rally March 8: 4-6 pm Wear Red
RALLY FOR SOLIDARITY AND CHANGE
"AWAKE THE STATE RALLY": TODAY , MARCH 8 from 4-6p.m. PSCFA/UFF/FEA invites you to attend the local "Take Back the State" rally outside of Representative Clay Ford's office at 1804 W. Garden St., Pensacola, FL 32506
WEAR RED for SOLIDARITY!!
"AWAKE THE STATE RALLY": TODAY , MARCH 8 from 4-6p.m. PSCFA/UFF/FEA invites you to attend the local "Take Back the State" rally outside of Representative Clay Ford's office at 1804 W. Garden St., Pensacola, FL 32506
WEAR RED for SOLIDARITY!!
2% Retirement Contribution proposed
Florida budget cutters focus on public employee salaries, benefits
The Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 9:44 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 9:44 a.m.
TALLAHASSEE — Florida's budget cutters are adhering to what's known in management accounting circles as the "Willie Sutton rule," named for the infamous robber once quoted as saying he targeted banks because "that's where the money is."
The rule holds that the greatest opportunity for cost savings can be found where the most money is spent. Sutton's name has stuck to it although he later denied making the comment.
In Florida's budget, most of the money is in salaries and benefits for state employees and public school teachers as well as the state-federal Medicaid health care program for low-income and disabled people.
So that's where Republican Gov. Rick Scott and the GOP-controlled Legislature have been looking for savings in the face of a forecast shortfall of $3.6 billion or more for the budget year beginning July 1.
That gap is about 5 percent of the current $70.5 billion budget, which is propped up with nearly $3 billion in stimulus money due that'll disappear when that federal program expires next year.
Layoffs, salary reductions and employee benefit cuts are among the budget balancing proposals waiting for lawmakers when the Legislature convenes in regular session starting Tuesday.
Scott has advanced the most drastic measures. He has proposed about $5 billion in spending cuts — including $3.3 billion for education — the elimination of 8,645 state jobs, or nearly 7 percent of current positions, with only about 2,000 of them vacant.
Public school officials say his proposal to slash spending by up to $703 per student, or 10 percent, would result in laying off thousands of teachers.
"I want to drive the size of state government down," Scott says. "I want to reduce the cost of state government. I want to make sure we put money back in the hands of taxpayers so they'll build private sector jobs."
Scott, who made millions as a health care executive, called his $65.9 billion spending recommendation for 2011-12 a "jobs budget."
He campaigned on a promise to create 700,000 new private sector jobs over seven years in addition to about 1 million expected as a result of the state's economic recovery.
He wants to do that by making Florida friendlier to business through cuts in government spending, regulations and taxes even if that comes at the expense of state workers who already have gone five years without an across-the-board pay raise.
"What we're looking at now is really trying to balance the budget on the backs of state employees," said Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich of Weston.
"Awake the State" protests against Scott's proposals are being organized in Tallahassee and elsewhere in Florida on the Legislature's opening day by liberal groups such as Progress Florida and America Votes. Thousands of tea party demonstrators also are expected in Tallahassee to support Scott's budget recommendations.
Similar scenarios are being played out in other cash-strapped states, notably Wisconsin, where the state capitol has been the scene of massive demonstrations against proposals to curtail public employee salaries, benefits and collective bargaining rights.
Doug Martin, a spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said he sees "growing unrest in the state," but AFSCME is discouraging members from joining the protests because Florida union leaders believe they will not be productive.
"Wisconsin certainly is a different state than Florida geographically," Martin said.
He said Tallahassee's distance from Florida's metropolitan areas makes it difficult to hold demonstrations of the scale and duration of those in Madison.
Also unlike Wisconsin, there's been little talk about repealing public employees' collective bargaining rights. That would take 60 percent voter approval of a state constitutional amendment.
Scott said during an interview on WFLA, a radio station in state employee-rich Tallahassee, that "as long as people know what they're doing, you know, collective bargaining's fine," but he later changed his tune and said he'd like to see that right repealed.
Even some Republican lawmakers have been taken aback by Scott's recommendations, starting with a pension proposal that would effectively cut the salaries of state workers, teachers and some local government employees, including police and firefighters.
"I very much appreciate the hard work that all the folks that work for the state do," said Senate Budget Committee Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales. "I'm not mad at 'em, I support 'em, and changing pay and benefit is not something I go to first."
The governor wants public employees to pay 5 percent of their salaries into the Florida Retirement System, now entirely supported by taxpayers. He also has called for increased employee contributions to their health care coverage and cuts to some pension benefits.
"He's doing exactly what he said he was going to do," said House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders of Key West. "What he didn't say was 'I'm going to do it by taxing teachers.'"
Scott has proposed that employee pension contributions displace an equal amount of taxpayer funds that go into the retirement plan, which is one of the nation's most financially secure. That would free those public dollars for use elsewhere such as paying for Scott's proposed property and corporate income tax reductions or reducing his recommended budget cut for public schools.
There is support in the Legislature for employee retirement contributions but not to the extent Scott's proposing.
The Senate's Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee has drafted a bill (SB 1130) that would require most public employees to contribute only 2 percent while elected officials, senior managers and those making more than $75,000 would put in 4 percent. Also, it would require those contribution only if needed to pay down an unfunded liability in the pension plan.
As of last June, the system had a $15 billion unfunded liability. That's likely to shrink because the plan's assets have grown dramatically as financial markets have recovered from their Great Recession swoon. Before the recession Florida had no unfunded liability.
Alexander said lawmakers may have to cut school spending but not nearly as deep as Scott's recommendation.
"I would tell you that the majority of the Senate has serious concerns and would not want to have to go there," Alexander said.
House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, have declared tax increases off the table.
Both, though, have expressed doubts as to whether the state can afford about $1.7 billion in tax and fee reductions Scott has proposed. Haridopolos later softened his stance but said lawmakers first must cut spending before they consider tax relief.
Scott's budget director, Jerry McDaniel, a holdover from populist Republican-turned-independent Charlie Crist's administration, has assured lawmakers Scott will be flexible and isn't naive enough to think he'll get everything he wants.
Scott and lawmakers are in closer agreement on Medicaid. They are anticipating savings from legislation that would expand a five-county experiment in managed care provided largely by private companies to the entire state. That plan, though, hinges on obtaining a federal Medicaid waiver. Scott also has proposed reducing fees paid to Medicare providers such as hospitals and nursing homes with the exception of doctors to save $1 billion.
Lawmakers faced similar financial dilemmas in each of the past four years but this time they cannot rely on stimulus funding or tax and fee increases that helped balance the past two budgets.
"We were hopeful that our economy would recover a bit better at this point, but it hadn't," Alexander said. "Medicaid growth has outpaced our estimates by billions of dollars. Our revenues are $1 billion under where we hoped they would be a year or so ago. So, all these have conspired to make for a very challenging effort."
2011 Session Bill List
Follow this link to a summary of bills being considered by the legislature as of March 4. The summary is provided by the Florida Education Association. UFF is a chapter of FEA, and PSCFA is a chapter of UFF. http://feaweb.org/_data/files/2011/Session/Session_Bill_List_3_4_11.pdf
Educators Cannot Strike in Florida
Watching the daily attacks on teachers and their unions unfold in Wisconsin and other states should motivate most activists to take action. But in Florida, the activist options for teachers and education staff professionals are somewhat limited.
Walking off the job or reporting to work late is not an appropriate action and it comes with harsh consequences. It is important for all FEA members to follow the law.
The state prohibits strikes and work slowdowns or stoppages. The definition of "strike" in Florida law is quite broad and contemplates ‘a concerted act or omission by employees.’ The definition includes “the concerted failure of employees to report for duty’ and ‘the concerted absence of employees from their positions.” The penalties placed on teachers and ESPs could be severe.
The prohibition against public sector employee strikes is established both in the Florida constitution and in Chapter 447.505, Florida Statutes. The Law applies the prohibition to: "public employee organizations or anyone acting in its behalf", including organizational "officers, representatives and agents". The law also prohibits instigating or supporting a strike.
The definition of "strike" states:
"Strike" means the concerted failure of employees to report for duty; the concerted absence of employees from their positions; the concerted stoppage of work by employees; the concerted submission of resignations by employees; the concerted abstinence in whole or in part by any group of employees from the full and faithful performance of the duties of employment with a public employer for the purpose of inducing, influencing, condoning, or coercing a change in the terms and conditions of employment or the rights, privileges, or obligations of public employment, or participating in a deliberate and concerted course of conduct which adversely affects the services of the public employer; the concerted failure of employees to report for work after the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement; and picketing in furtherance of a work stoppage. The term "strike" shall also mean any overt preparation, including, but not limited to, the establishment of strike funds with regard to the above-listed activities.
PERC has applied the term "strike" to certain concerted activities even in the absence of withholding of service. In one instance, the unusually high number of requests for bus repairs was announced effective on the date of layoffs. PERC ruled that such action might be a concerted activity, and thus a strike, if intended to affect the terms and conditions of employment. PERC ordered an investigation to determine if this was the case.
Certain other activity, such as sick outs, may also be construed to be a strike if concerted and intended to affect terms and conditions of employment.
The law provides for severe sanctions against the employees and the union participating in a strike. PERC and/or the employer can file an injunction to stop the strike in circuit court. These types of cases are given priority as emergency cases.
In summary, the organization, even if it publicly takes a stand against a strike, can still have sanctions imposed against it for up to $20,000 per calendar day or in some instances more if it is determined that the approximate cost to the public is in excess of $20,000. Unions would have to publicly ensure that no serving union official participated in the strike.
Perhaps more importantly, employees that participate can be terminated, may only be reemployed on a probationary basis, have their salaries frozen for a year and most drastically, lose their retirement if found to have violated any state law against strikes.
.
Walking off the job or reporting to work late is not an appropriate action and it comes with harsh consequences. It is important for all FEA members to follow the law.
The state prohibits strikes and work slowdowns or stoppages. The definition of "strike" in Florida law is quite broad and contemplates ‘a concerted act or omission by employees.’ The definition includes “the concerted failure of employees to report for duty’ and ‘the concerted absence of employees from their positions.” The penalties placed on teachers and ESPs could be severe.
The prohibition against public sector employee strikes is established both in the Florida constitution and in Chapter 447.505, Florida Statutes. The Law applies the prohibition to: "public employee organizations or anyone acting in its behalf", including organizational "officers, representatives and agents". The law also prohibits instigating or supporting a strike.
The definition of "strike" states:
"Strike" means the concerted failure of employees to report for duty; the concerted absence of employees from their positions; the concerted stoppage of work by employees; the concerted submission of resignations by employees; the concerted abstinence in whole or in part by any group of employees from the full and faithful performance of the duties of employment with a public employer for the purpose of inducing, influencing, condoning, or coercing a change in the terms and conditions of employment or the rights, privileges, or obligations of public employment, or participating in a deliberate and concerted course of conduct which adversely affects the services of the public employer; the concerted failure of employees to report for work after the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement; and picketing in furtherance of a work stoppage. The term "strike" shall also mean any overt preparation, including, but not limited to, the establishment of strike funds with regard to the above-listed activities.
PERC has applied the term "strike" to certain concerted activities even in the absence of withholding of service. In one instance, the unusually high number of requests for bus repairs was announced effective on the date of layoffs. PERC ruled that such action might be a concerted activity, and thus a strike, if intended to affect the terms and conditions of employment. PERC ordered an investigation to determine if this was the case.
Certain other activity, such as sick outs, may also be construed to be a strike if concerted and intended to affect terms and conditions of employment.
The law provides for severe sanctions against the employees and the union participating in a strike. PERC and/or the employer can file an injunction to stop the strike in circuit court. These types of cases are given priority as emergency cases.
In summary, the organization, even if it publicly takes a stand against a strike, can still have sanctions imposed against it for up to $20,000 per calendar day or in some instances more if it is determined that the approximate cost to the public is in excess of $20,000. Unions would have to publicly ensure that no serving union official participated in the strike.
Perhaps more importantly, employees that participate can be terminated, may only be reemployed on a probationary basis, have their salaries frozen for a year and most drastically, lose their retirement if found to have violated any state law against strikes.
.
Reason for 1974 Switch Away from Employee Retirement Contributions
A 1974 pension document shows how the state benefited from a switch away from employee contributions. A copy of the August 1974 Florida Retirement Bulletin, unearthed by a member of the Public Pensions Trustees Association, gives a glimpse into why the state stopped requiring employees to contribute part of their salaries to the Florida Retirement System: to save the state money. Here's the 36-year-old document:Download 1974 Florida Retirement Bulletin
Back in 1974, employees contributed 4 percent of their salaries to their retirement fund while special risk members (police, firefighters, etc.) contributed 8 percent. But if those employees left the state workforce, they were entitled to have their contribution returned to them in the form of a refund -- costing the state that year a whopping $30 million and setting up an unfunded liability. "The primary purpose in changing FRS to a non-contributory plan is to help eliminate the unfunded liability documented in past actuarial studies of state retirement systems," the newsletter states.
The end result of the change was to increase the state's contribution from 4 to 9 percent for regular class members -- where it remains today -- and from 8 to 13 percent for special risk members.
Today, Gov. Rick Scott wants state and local government to withdraw 5 percent of its contributions and have employees make up the difference. He is doing it to save the state money again -- only it's the reverse of 1974, with the money flowing into the retirement system coming from employees, not employers. The governor gets a $1.3 billion savings to the state by withholding 5 percent of the state's contribution to the FRS or, in the case of local governments, from local government revenue sharing plans. It's not clear whether employees could withdraw that money if they leave the FRS, under Scott's plan, as they did in the past.
So far, the Florida Senate is considering asking employees to shift money from employee paychecks to their retirement accounts at rates of about 2 percent of their salaries, while the House has yet to propose a plan.
Back in 1974, employees contributed 4 percent of their salaries to their retirement fund while special risk members (police, firefighters, etc.) contributed 8 percent. But if those employees left the state workforce, they were entitled to have their contribution returned to them in the form of a refund -- costing the state that year a whopping $30 million and setting up an unfunded liability. "The primary purpose in changing FRS to a non-contributory plan is to help eliminate the unfunded liability documented in past actuarial studies of state retirement systems," the newsletter states.
The end result of the change was to increase the state's contribution from 4 to 9 percent for regular class members -- where it remains today -- and from 8 to 13 percent for special risk members.
Today, Gov. Rick Scott wants state and local government to withdraw 5 percent of its contributions and have employees make up the difference. He is doing it to save the state money again -- only it's the reverse of 1974, with the money flowing into the retirement system coming from employees, not employers. The governor gets a $1.3 billion savings to the state by withholding 5 percent of the state's contribution to the FRS or, in the case of local governments, from local government revenue sharing plans. It's not clear whether employees could withdraw that money if they leave the FRS, under Scott's plan, as they did in the past.
So far, the Florida Senate is considering asking employees to shift money from employee paychecks to their retirement accounts at rates of about 2 percent of their salaries, while the House has yet to propose a plan.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Union workers protest legislative bill
St. Pete Times The Buzz: Florida Politics
March 7, 2011
Workers protest outside committee room on bill to 'silence their speech'
About two dozen current and retired state workers, all union members, stood with blue tape over their mouths outside a Senate hearing room Monday in protest of a bill aimed at banning them from political activity.
The measure, sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher, would prevent unions from using worker dues to finance political committees and from allowing workers to voluntarily have their dues deducted from their wages as a payroll deduction. It is the first in a series of bills that tighten the grip on public employee unions.
"It's revenge,'' said Scott Whittle, a high school teacher from Lincoln High School in Tallahassee who stood outside the Senate Community Affairs Committee meeting. He said Thrasher led the charge last year to "shove down our throats" the bill to eliminate teacher tenure, which was vetoed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist.
Take Back the State Rally, Tues. Mar. 8 -4-6pm
RALLY FOR SOLIDARITY AND CHANGE
"AWAKE THE STATE RALLY": This Tuesday , MARCH 8 from 4-6p.m. your PSCFA/UFF/FEA invites you to attend the local "Take Back the State" rally outside of Representative Clay Ford's office at 1804 W. Garden St., Pensacola, FL 32506
WEAR RED for SOLIDARITY!!
"AWAKE THE STATE RALLY": This Tuesday , MARCH 8 from 4-6p.m. your PSCFA/UFF/FEA invites you to attend the local "Take Back the State" rally outside of Representative Clay Ford's office at 1804 W. Garden St., Pensacola, FL 32506
WEAR RED for SOLIDARITY!!
Dueling Rallies Over Budget Battles
TALLAHASSEE --
As state lawmakers prepare for a marathon legislative session, Floridians angry over budget cuts and politics are also headed to Tallahassee to make sure their voices are heard.
Two rallies are scheduled from both sides of the battle over budget cuts.
On the side supporting a slimmer budget, Florida Tea Party organizers said they will hold a Save Our State Rally on Tuesday to show their support for Gov. Rick Scott.
Also on Tuesday, a coalition of liberal groups against slashing the state budget said it is hosting an Awake the State Rally, also in Tallahassee.
However, over two dozen other Awake the State rallies are scheduled across Florida on Tuesday.
As state lawmakers prepare for a marathon legislative session, Floridians angry over budget cuts and politics are also headed to Tallahassee to make sure their voices are heard.
Two rallies are scheduled from both sides of the battle over budget cuts.
On the side supporting a slimmer budget, Florida Tea Party organizers said they will hold a Save Our State Rally on Tuesday to show their support for Gov. Rick Scott.
Also on Tuesday, a coalition of liberal groups against slashing the state budget said it is hosting an Awake the State Rally, also in Tallahassee.
However, over two dozen other Awake the State rallies are scheduled across Florida on Tuesday.
Major pension reform battle looms in Legislature
By Mary Ellen Klas, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
In Print: Sunday, March 6, 2011
TALLAHASSEE — As 90-year-old Ed Hoffman stood before a House committee and urged them "not to reduce the benefits for officers and law enforcement who put their lives on the line," his eyes welled up with tears.
"You could not hold a gun to my head and make me go into a correctional institution for $31,000," said Hoffman, a former West Palm Beach firefighter.
He spoke of the five police officers and the corrections officer killed in the line of duty in Florida in the last two months. "Those people don't deserve to be treated in a manner that would make them contribute to a pension system without adequate salaries," he said. "It's not fair. It's not right."
The question of whether Florida's government workers should have their benefits scaled back to help balance the state budget goes to the core of the emotional pension reform debate that lies ahead for Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature.
During the 60-day session, lawmakers plan the broadest overhaul to the Florida Retirement System since 1974, the last time workers paid directly into their retirement accounts.
On one side are employees and unions who argue that they have already made financial sacrifices to fill a $3.6 billion budget gap.
They say they have agreed to wage concessions, overtime, furloughs and increased responsibilities in the past few years to preserve their benefits packages amid deep budget cuts. And they say they are willing to make more concessions, with the hope that legislators will restore cuts when the economy improves.
On the other side is Scott, lobbying groups for the state's largest corporations, and a disparate but growing tea party movement in Florida. They believe the pension system has a glaring inequity: it doesn't require employees to contribute to their retirement accounts and it gives two-thirds of all workers a guaranteed pension, regardless of investment returns.
For Scott, who spent a lifetime in the private sector and drew a public paycheck only when he was enlisted in the Navy, Florida's pension is simply unfair. In the private sector, the governor says, employees are expected to contribute to their retirement accounts, most of which are 401(k)-style plans that don't guarantee returns.
"I think it's only fair that those who participate in the pension plan contribute," Scott said.
He argues that it is not right for state workers to rely on taxpayer-financed pension plans that guarantee an income stream when those same taxpayers face a future of uncertainty because of the Wall Street turmoil and the declines in their investments. His argument is echoed by Barney Bishop, director of Associated Industries of Florida, a business-backed lobbyist group.
"We support efforts to bring Florida's pension system more in line with the private sector," Bishop told the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee in February. "After all, it's taxpayers' money, and taxpayers are hurting."
He said the corporations that back his group want reforms that require state employees to have a defined contribution plan "so that state employees have some skin in the game. To date, the public sector has not felt the pain of the private sector in terms of unemployment."
To that end, the governor called for scrapping the defined benefit plan for new hires and requiring that all new employees get 401(k)-style defined contribution plans that they can take with them when they leave government.
He also proposed ending the Deferred Retirement Option Program, known as DROP, beginning July 1. The popular program encourages older workers to retire early, before their health insurance expenses rise, by allowing them to draw their pension check and return to work. Critics say it allows state workers to receive two state paychecks.
Scott also proposed eliminating cost-of-living adjustments and reducing the annual service credit for retirement benefits to 1.6 percent for most members of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), and 2 percent for police, fire and other special-risk employees. The estimated savings to state and local governments to the governor's plan: $1.4 billion, money the governor would pour back into the state budget.
Employee groups counter that the governor's plan fundamentally mischaracterizes the intent of the pension plan. They say their retirement funds, combined with their salaries, equal their full compensation package and together it is their "skin in the game."
In negotiations with state and local governments, they have agreed to defer payment from their salaries into their retirement accounts as a tradeoff. State and local governments can then use the investment earnings from the funds to offset their costs and employees get a guaranteed income when they retire.
In recent years, however, some local governments violated that pact when they failed to make contributions to the retirement accounts, negotiated richer benefits than they were willing to fund, or borrowed against it by taking our surplus revenue. And the crash of stock markets only worsened the situation. The result left a number of cities owing more money into their pension plans than they now pay in salaries.
It will be up to the Legislature to sort things out. So far, the Senate is the only chamber to have proposed a compromise. It is taking a two-pronged approach: addressing the call for strengthening local government retirement plans in one bill and modifying the FRS and adding employee contributions in another. One Senate plan would require employees to contribute 2 percent of their salaries into the retirement funds but not eliminate the defined benefit program.
Complicating the solution is the state's $3.6 billion budget deficit and the promise from the governor and legislators that they will raise taxes or close tax loopholes to do it. State workers salaries are seen as an available target.
Legislators were faced with a different set of problems in 1974, when they moved away from having employees contribute a portion of their salaries into their retirement accounts. At the time, employees contributed 4 percent of their salaries, while special-risk members (police, firefighters, prison guards) contributed 8 percent.
Under that arrangement, an employee who left the state work force was entitled to have his pension fund contribution returned in the form of a refund. In 1974, those refunds cost the state a whopping $30 million and left a big hole in the pension plan. Since employees couldn't take the employer's share of the retirement fund when they left, the state agreed to pay all of the retirement benefit and cut back on employee salaries.
The result was an increase in the state's contribution from 4 to 9 percent for regular class members — where it remains today — and from 8 to 13 percent for special-risk members.
For Ed Hoffman, it means drawing the same monthly pension benefit — $786 — today as he did when he retired in 1970 after earning $16,000 a year. He added that he took a second career with the Police Benevolent Association to earn Social Security.
"Not everybody is receiving those fabulous pensions that some people have accused public employees of receiving," he said. "It's no cushy deal. I have to work to eat."
In Print: Sunday, March 6, 2011
TALLAHASSEE — As 90-year-old Ed Hoffman stood before a House committee and urged them "not to reduce the benefits for officers and law enforcement who put their lives on the line," his eyes welled up with tears.
"You could not hold a gun to my head and make me go into a correctional institution for $31,000," said Hoffman, a former West Palm Beach firefighter.
He spoke of the five police officers and the corrections officer killed in the line of duty in Florida in the last two months. "Those people don't deserve to be treated in a manner that would make them contribute to a pension system without adequate salaries," he said. "It's not fair. It's not right."
The question of whether Florida's government workers should have their benefits scaled back to help balance the state budget goes to the core of the emotional pension reform debate that lies ahead for Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature.
During the 60-day session, lawmakers plan the broadest overhaul to the Florida Retirement System since 1974, the last time workers paid directly into their retirement accounts.
On one side are employees and unions who argue that they have already made financial sacrifices to fill a $3.6 billion budget gap.
They say they have agreed to wage concessions, overtime, furloughs and increased responsibilities in the past few years to preserve their benefits packages amid deep budget cuts. And they say they are willing to make more concessions, with the hope that legislators will restore cuts when the economy improves.
On the other side is Scott, lobbying groups for the state's largest corporations, and a disparate but growing tea party movement in Florida. They believe the pension system has a glaring inequity: it doesn't require employees to contribute to their retirement accounts and it gives two-thirds of all workers a guaranteed pension, regardless of investment returns.
For Scott, who spent a lifetime in the private sector and drew a public paycheck only when he was enlisted in the Navy, Florida's pension is simply unfair. In the private sector, the governor says, employees are expected to contribute to their retirement accounts, most of which are 401(k)-style plans that don't guarantee returns.
"I think it's only fair that those who participate in the pension plan contribute," Scott said.
He argues that it is not right for state workers to rely on taxpayer-financed pension plans that guarantee an income stream when those same taxpayers face a future of uncertainty because of the Wall Street turmoil and the declines in their investments. His argument is echoed by Barney Bishop, director of Associated Industries of Florida, a business-backed lobbyist group.
"We support efforts to bring Florida's pension system more in line with the private sector," Bishop told the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee in February. "After all, it's taxpayers' money, and taxpayers are hurting."
He said the corporations that back his group want reforms that require state employees to have a defined contribution plan "so that state employees have some skin in the game. To date, the public sector has not felt the pain of the private sector in terms of unemployment."
To that end, the governor called for scrapping the defined benefit plan for new hires and requiring that all new employees get 401(k)-style defined contribution plans that they can take with them when they leave government.
He also proposed ending the Deferred Retirement Option Program, known as DROP, beginning July 1. The popular program encourages older workers to retire early, before their health insurance expenses rise, by allowing them to draw their pension check and return to work. Critics say it allows state workers to receive two state paychecks.
Scott also proposed eliminating cost-of-living adjustments and reducing the annual service credit for retirement benefits to 1.6 percent for most members of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), and 2 percent for police, fire and other special-risk employees. The estimated savings to state and local governments to the governor's plan: $1.4 billion, money the governor would pour back into the state budget.
Employee groups counter that the governor's plan fundamentally mischaracterizes the intent of the pension plan. They say their retirement funds, combined with their salaries, equal their full compensation package and together it is their "skin in the game."
In negotiations with state and local governments, they have agreed to defer payment from their salaries into their retirement accounts as a tradeoff. State and local governments can then use the investment earnings from the funds to offset their costs and employees get a guaranteed income when they retire.
In recent years, however, some local governments violated that pact when they failed to make contributions to the retirement accounts, negotiated richer benefits than they were willing to fund, or borrowed against it by taking our surplus revenue. And the crash of stock markets only worsened the situation. The result left a number of cities owing more money into their pension plans than they now pay in salaries.
It will be up to the Legislature to sort things out. So far, the Senate is the only chamber to have proposed a compromise. It is taking a two-pronged approach: addressing the call for strengthening local government retirement plans in one bill and modifying the FRS and adding employee contributions in another. One Senate plan would require employees to contribute 2 percent of their salaries into the retirement funds but not eliminate the defined benefit program.
Complicating the solution is the state's $3.6 billion budget deficit and the promise from the governor and legislators that they will raise taxes or close tax loopholes to do it. State workers salaries are seen as an available target.
Legislators were faced with a different set of problems in 1974, when they moved away from having employees contribute a portion of their salaries into their retirement accounts. At the time, employees contributed 4 percent of their salaries, while special-risk members (police, firefighters, prison guards) contributed 8 percent.
Under that arrangement, an employee who left the state work force was entitled to have his pension fund contribution returned in the form of a refund. In 1974, those refunds cost the state a whopping $30 million and left a big hole in the pension plan. Since employees couldn't take the employer's share of the retirement fund when they left, the state agreed to pay all of the retirement benefit and cut back on employee salaries.
The result was an increase in the state's contribution from 4 to 9 percent for regular class members — where it remains today — and from 8 to 13 percent for special-risk members.
For Ed Hoffman, it means drawing the same monthly pension benefit — $786 — today as he did when he retired in 1970 after earning $16,000 a year. He added that he took a second career with the Police Benevolent Association to earn Social Security.
"Not everybody is receiving those fabulous pensions that some people have accused public employees of receiving," he said. "It's no cushy deal. I have to work to eat."
Friday, February 18, 2011
FRS Pension Reform Bill Update 2/15/11
Late yesterday, 2/15/2011, Sen. Ring introduced the much-anticipated FRS pension reform bill, SB 1130 (154 pages). FEA PPA has done a quick review of the 154-page bill and found the bill makes the following changes listed below. This is a preliminary listing of what SB 1130 does, but this preliminary report may not be completely accurate and/or comprehensive . FEA PPA is continuing to read and analyze the bill and will provide you with additional information as we develop it.
Sen. Ring will be holding a hearing on SB 1130 on Friday, 2/18/2011 to receive public input and comment. FEA has arranged for one or two FEA members who have a Legislator from their local area sitting on the committee to come in offer public comment..FEA is also working with the labor union and public employee coalition organizations to generate a large turn-out for this hearing, so that the Chairman and other members of the Committee see and feel the concern and interest of the large number of public employees from a diverse range of backgrounds and circumstances who will be negatively impacted by this legislation. Hearing location details:
Friday, 2/18/2011
Hearing time: 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon
Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Cmte
412 Knott Office Building
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL
SB 1130 reforms the Florida Retirement System (FRS) --
1. Closes defined benefit plan to new members, effective 7/1/11.
2. Changes vesting for new members of the defined contribution plan on or after 7/1/11. They will vest in graded increments over a five-year period.
3. Requires employee contributions for all members, effective 7/1/11, but the employee contribution amount is not specified. The rates probably will be decided in Senator Alexander's Budget Committee and will probably be included in the budget conforming bill (near the end of the 2011 legislative session)
4. The employer rates are listed for 2011 and 2012 so I am hopeful the employee rates will be phased in but the employer rates may be changed in the conforming bill also
5. Changes the definitions of “compensation” and “average final compensation” to exclude overtime and lump sum annual leave for all members, effective 7/1/11.
6. Allows reenrollment in the defined contribution plan.
7. Sets the employer contribution rates (which will be subject to change depending on other economic and policy issues).
8. DROP appears to be continued with no apparent changes except for those hired after 7/1/11.
9. HIS is not impacted by this bill.
10. The bill includes an actuarial study that will look at how DROP is funded
Pat Dix, J.D.
FEA Public Policy Advocacy
Florida Education Association
Sen. Ring will be holding a hearing on SB 1130 on Friday, 2/18/2011 to receive public input and comment. FEA has arranged for one or two FEA members who have a Legislator from their local area sitting on the committee to come in offer public comment..FEA is also working with the labor union and public employee coalition organizations to generate a large turn-out for this hearing, so that the Chairman and other members of the Committee see and feel the concern and interest of the large number of public employees from a diverse range of backgrounds and circumstances who will be negatively impacted by this legislation. Hearing location details:
Friday, 2/18/2011
Hearing time: 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon
Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Cmte
412 Knott Office Building
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL
SB 1130 reforms the Florida Retirement System (FRS) --
1. Closes defined benefit plan to new members, effective 7/1/11.
2. Changes vesting for new members of the defined contribution plan on or after 7/1/11. They will vest in graded increments over a five-year period.
3. Requires employee contributions for all members, effective 7/1/11, but the employee contribution amount is not specified. The rates probably will be decided in Senator Alexander's Budget Committee and will probably be included in the budget conforming bill (near the end of the 2011 legislative session)
4. The employer rates are listed for 2011 and 2012 so I am hopeful the employee rates will be phased in but the employer rates may be changed in the conforming bill also
5. Changes the definitions of “compensation” and “average final compensation” to exclude overtime and lump sum annual leave for all members, effective 7/1/11.
6. Allows reenrollment in the defined contribution plan.
7. Sets the employer contribution rates (which will be subject to change depending on other economic and policy issues).
8. DROP appears to be continued with no apparent changes except for those hired after 7/1/11.
9. HIS is not impacted by this bill.
10. The bill includes an actuarial study that will look at how DROP is funded
Pat Dix, J.D.
FEA Public Policy Advocacy
Florida Education Association
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