A Devastating Attack on Public Education

Here's what you need to know this week:

This is the last week of the 2019 Legislative Session, and with it comes one of the most significant attacks on public education in Florida, to date. On Tuesday, SB 7070 passed in the house to be sent to the desk of Governor DeSantis. This massive voucher scheme takes $130 million in public money and diverts them to private schools in the form of tuition vouchers. This money could have been used to properly fund our public schools and help meet the needs of the millions of students attending them, but instead, it will be funneled into the pockets of charter school owners hoping to strike it rich on taxpayer money. In addition, the bill also raises the income threshold for approval, meaning that  those that could likely afford  private schools will be able to use tax dollars, which could instead be being used to repair some of our schools in the greatest need of assistance.

While legislation like this was previously ruled unconstitutional, the legislature is hoping that the newly appointed court by Governor DeSantis will overturn this. All of these interworking pieces are a somber reminder that all elections on the ballot have consequences, and that remaining disengaged comes at a price. 

Here's what's coming up:

- Tomorrow (5/3) our Florida Future Labor Leaders chapter will be rallying for worker's rights outside Hillsborough School Employees Federation (5126 N Florida Ave) at 5PM. They will be speaking out against attempts to privatize the custodial staff at our public schools, attacks on public education, and other issues that hurt working people today.

- Tuesday (5/7), our sisters and brothers from Hillsborough School Employees Federation (HSEF) will be rallying at the school board (901 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa) in opposition to privatization of custodial services in Hillsborough County Schools. There will be a rally at 9AM with night shift employees who will be working during the school board meeting and a second rally at 3:30PM during the actual meeting. More info about this effort can be found by CLICKING HERE, and a printable flyer for the event can be found HERE.

- After the rally on Tuesday (5/7) swing by our CLC Meeting at IBEW 824 (6603 E Chelsea St, Tampa) at 7PM to be a part of everything we've got going on in our CLC!

Keep in Mind:

The national AFL-CIO is still opposing a vote on the new NAFTA deal until it is fixed. While the labor movement has been asking for renegotiation for years, this new deal lacks protections for workers and does little or nothing to foster an inclusive and sustainable economy. Sign the petition from the AFL-CIO by CLICKING HERE.

That's all for this week! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. If you would like to receive text message alerts from the Florida AFL-CIO (Msg & data rates may apply), text FLUNION to 235246!

In Solidarity,

West Central Florida Labor Council

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