1 min read

Season 5, Episode 239

FEA remains optimistic despite Florida’s attack on public unions

FEA

 

Guest Name:


Andrew Spar

Guest Website:


Florida Education Association 

Guest Social Media:


Facebook

Twitter

Supportive Documents:


Andrew Spar, President of the Florida Education Association (FEA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the successful campaigns that have helped unions fight against attacks on public sector unions in Florida.

Spar highlighted the recent victory of the United Teachers of Dade, who overwhelmingly defeated a decertification campaign backed by anti-union groups. This win is part of a larger trend, with the FEA winning 28 consecutive elections across the state. Spar attributed this success to union members' leadership and organizing efforts emphasizing the importance of empowering educators and building strong community connections.

Looking ahead to 2025, Spar expressed concerns about the incoming Trump administration's stance on public education and unions. Proposals to dismantle the Department of Education and block federal funds risk further undermining public schools in Florida. Spar stressed the need for vigilance and advocacy to protect educators' rights and ensure students receive a quality education.

Despite these challenges, Spar remains optimistic about the future. The FEA is actively building relationships with lawmakers and working to strengthen public education in Florida. By focusing on member engagement and community support, the FEA is poised to continue fighting for fair treatment and resources for educators and students, Spar said.

Listen to the full episode to hear more from Spar about the FEA's efforts to defend public education and union rights.


America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

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