Florida teachers’ union accused of harassing teachers

Two educators in Maimi-Dade public schools have filed a complaint against United Teachers of Dade (UTD), claiming they’re being hounded by union organizers.

One teacher said she was cornered in the teacher lounge and pressured to rejoin the union she left in July, the New York Post reported.

“I was so disgusted with the union that I left it,” she responded. “Why would I want to pay dues?”

The other complainant said a union organizer made “shaming remarks” about her in public, making her feel “bullied and belittled” for refusing to pay dues.

“If the union leadership had spent this much time and energy on workplace issues and representing their members as they are now while trying to hold onto power, they might not even be in this position,” said Allison Beattie, director of labor relations at the Freedom Foundation, who’s representing the teachers.

“They took their members for granted for decades,” Beattie continued. “Now that Florida has empowered its teachers to shake off a corrupt and unaccountable union, they are scrambling to convince people to join.” 

UTD, Florida’s largest teachers’ union, needs to boost its membership to maintain its position of power in the district. 

According to new state law, at least 60% of teachers need to be part of the union or it risks decertification.  

UTD’s president reported in November that it had 58.4% membership. Last year, it only had 51%. 

In addition to the 60% membership requirement, Gov. Ron DeSantis also signed a paycheck protection law prohibiting schools from automatically deducting union dues from teacher paychecks. Instead, teachers must initiate payments. 

As teachers’ unions become more radical – supporting terrorists and spending more money lobbying for Democrats than on their own members – educators have had enough and are leaving in droves. 

The Florida Education Association lost 4,500 members in just one year, and nationwide membership has plummeted by nearly 60,000 teachers. 

To make matters worse, top employees of unions like the American Federation for Teachers (AFT) make far more than the teachers who pay in. 

Salary data shows that over 200 of AFT’s employees make six-figure salaries. AFT President Randi Weingarten makes $487,000 annually.  

Currently, UTD’s bosses also make six-figures, but those salaries could shrivel up if they can’t persuade more Florida teachers to pay union dues.