News & Commentary March 16, 2023
https://onlabor.org/march-16-2023/
By Michelle Berger
Michelle Berger is a student at Harvard Law School.
In todays news and commentary, Floridas anti-union bills advance, questions remain about collective bargaining measures in California ballot initiatives, and a GAO report highlights gender disparities.
Legislation that would weaken public sector unions advanced in Florida, where the bills are working their way through committees in the state senate. As Elyse reported last week, the legislation would: (1) decertify unions unable to maintain membership levels of 60% of eligible workers and (2) end direct deductions of union dues from employees paychecks. The legislation does not apply to law enforcement and firefighters unions. If the bills continue to advance in the Florida legislature, questions may arise as to whether the Florida state constitution permits the legislation. The Florida state constitution declares that [t]he right
to bargain collectively shall not be denied or abridged. The Florida Supreme Court interprets this provision to mean that the legislature must narrowly tailor any interference with the right to collectively bargain to a compelling state interest.
FULL story at link above.