President of the United Faculty of Florida, Teresa M. Hodge, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her experience as a woman of color in the UFF, and how her union helped lead her into a leadership position. Hodge also talked about the concerted efforts by Florida’s legislators to eliminate public sector unions and any DEI efforts in higher education institutions.
Hodge is the first Afro-Carribean female President of the UFF. As a woman educated in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) — an industry mainly made up of males — she’s the ideal example of what can happen when there is a proper DEI program, in place. While an example of a proper DEI program’s effectiveness, Hodge said that initial hiring at Broward College wasn’t because she was a woman of color. She was hired and continues to progress based on her credentials and teaching expertise, she said. During her 22-year journey since joining the union, she has been pushed and empowered to seek leadership in her union, and she was eventually elected the president of the statewide secondary education union.
The ongoing efforts to eliminate public sector unions in Florida have greatly impacted how workers can participate with public sector unions in the state. Hodge discussed what has happened since passing the initial bill, Senate Bill 256, requiring a minimum of 60 percent of members to pay dues directly to the union. Recently, Senate Bill 1746 was introduced, which works in partnership with Senate Bill 256. The new bill takes an optional form from Senate Bill 256 and makes it mandatory to have this form filled out by at least 60 percent of members annually. While the bill could be problematic for some unions, Hodge talked about the positive reaction from her members who ensure they continue to have the union protect their best interests.
Finally, Hodge talked about what the UFF is doing for the faculty members whose jobs were eliminated after Florida legislators eliminated all higher education DEI programs and offices. This personally impacts Hodge, a female of color in the STEM industry. Not only were the DEI programs eliminated, but they also eliminated sociology as a core curriculum in Florida universities. Hodge expressed her concern for the future of students, educators and the general public as more limitations are added to the state’s education system, including bylaws previously ruled unconstitutional by federal judges.
Listen to the episode above to hear more from Hodge’s impassioned discussion on the state of higher education in Florida.
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