USEP Update – Friday, April 2nd, 2021

ACTION REQUIRED

USEP members, potential members, and TIGER Pride members,

This is to inform all of you of upcoming legislation to be heard that potentially affects all of us, not just Union members. Much of this legislation is punitive to Public Education in general and some is targeting Education unions. It is time that employees who have, in the past, stood on the sidelines and reaped the harvest of Union work, including salary, working conditions and benefits, step up and become a part of the “LOUDER VOICE” against these potentially devastating bills. The Union, your professional organization, is the ONLY entity that stands in the gap between employee and employer. We are the reason you have a contract, and in Pasco, that language is the culmination of over 35 years of work to get us where we are now. No longer can you wait to see how things “MIGHT” turn out. If these bills pass, IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO ACT!

We are asking ALL OF YOU, member or not, to contact legislators on the following bills and ask them to “VOTE NO!” If you are not CURRENTLY a USEP member,

PLEASE JOIN WITH US IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST BAD LEGISLATION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

CS/SB 84 - RETIREMENT (Placed on Special Order Calendar for 4.7.21)

• Requires all new hires after July 1, 2022, to join FRS investment plan.
• This will create a vacuum for income into the Pension Plan for current employees and retirees receiving pay-outs from that plan.
• This will diminish monies available for payout to future retirees.

CALL YOUR SENATOR AND TELL THEM TO VOTE NO ON THIS BILL!

CS/SB 78 – DUES & UNIFORM ASSESSMENTS (Senate Rules Committee – Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 9:30 AM)

• Annual renewal of Union membership w/District verification
• RIGHT TO WORK acknowledgement, no reason to drop.
• Applies to all Public sector unions.

This is unneeded and unwanted governmental oversight by both employees and districts.
Click here to contact the Senate Rules Committee and tell them to “VOTE NO!” on this bill.
You, as the employee, should determine what you do with your money.
and if you should join a professional organization.

CS/SB 1014 - Employee organizations - (Senate Rules Committee - Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 9:30 AM)

• Includes aspects of SB 78 EXCEPT it targets PUBLIC EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS ONLY!
• Requires a density above 50% by December 31.
• Allows PERC to investigate submissions and revoke certifications.
• DISALLOWS DUES DEDUCTIONS BY EMPLOYER

This is purely unwarranted punitive action against PUBLIC EDUCATION unions!
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE THE YEAR OF THE TEACHER?
After all educators have been asked to do for students, this is no way to say, “Thank you!”
Click here to contact the Senate Rules Committee and tell them to “VOTE NO!” on this bill.

If you do not currently belong to USEP, please fill out the card attached and help us get out the message that ALL PUBLIC EDUCATORS MATTER! Public Education should not be the doormat of legislative action.
Your membership in our local organization helps bring about a louder collective voice in Tallahassee to defeat these vile bills and makes us stronger when we bargain our own contract here in Pasco.
Please consider joining today!