Archive Information for
1999 Florida Legislative Priorities

Equal Pay
  Equal pay has been the law since 1963.  But today, 35 years later, women still are paid less than men - even when they do similar work and have similar education.   In 1996 woman earned  .75¢ for every dollar men earned.  Not only does this mean less money to spend on housing, food, child care and other necessities, it also translates to smaller pensions benefits when women retire.  The Florida AFL-CIO will work to introduce and pass legislation that ensures equal pay in the workplace.

Economic Development
  Organized labor is committed to working in partnership with business and government to actively encourage the retention expansion and location of businesses in Florida that provide high-wage job opportunities and that favorably contribute to the economy of the state.  Some states have opted for a "jobs at any cost" approach to economic development.  Floridians want jobs that enhance the well-being of the state and its citizens.

Workforce Development/Vocational Education
  To compete in a global economy, Florida must have a well-trained workforce, ready to face the jobs of tomorrow.  The Florida AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions are dedicated to working at state and regional levels to ensure that quality training and retraining are available to the working men and women of Florida.   Worker protections and programs with demonstrated success, such as registered apprenticeship training programs must remain integral components of the state's job training system.  Individuals who have completed registered apprenticeship training maintain high wages and continued employment.
  This year, the Florida AFL-CIO will press for skill upgrade training worker retraining and effective regulation and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs.

Welfare Reform
  True welfare reform can only be achieved by providing real jobs and full employment rights. Welfare reforms must also provide the tools to move from welfare to work, including child care, education and training.  Temporary work assignments with no training and little opportunities for advancement will only lead to continued dependency.  The goals of welfare reform must protect the job security of those already working, while creating real jobs with living wages for those people moving from public assistance.  The Florida AFL-CIO will work toward adoption of legislation that incorporates such provisions.

Workers' Compensation
  The workers' compensation reforms of 1991 and 1994 slashed more than 40% of benefits, leaving workers without an adequate safety net.
  Employers are also suffering.  Fraudulent use of exemptions in the law allows construction contractors and subcontractors to avoid paying for employee coverage.   Their injury costs are actually shifted to responsible employers in the form of higher premiums.  The current rating method poses other problems.  Premiums are based on job classification and gross wages paid.  This is extremely unfair to employers who pay higher wages and therefore pay higher premiums for the same classifications.
  The Florida AFL-CIO will work to resolve these inequities and establish balance in the law.

Unemployment Compensation
  Legislation has been filed to continue the tax reduction for employers and the temporary benefit increase for unemployed workers.  We strongly urge the passage of language that allows a alternative base period when determining benefits for claimants.   This would allow the most recent work history to be part of the calculation when necessary.

Universal Health Care
  The Florida Legislature has been deliberating the issue of health care access for several years.  Thee are still an estimated 2.7 million people in the state without health care coverage.  Access to health care is a problem that has grown dramatically over the last several years.  Both the federal and state governments must act to make health care for all Americans available and affordable.

Privatization
  Privatization efforts continues to be introduced in the legislature as a "cure all" for rising costs.  All too often, public officials have contracted out public services as the answer to their budget problems.  Questions concerning cost overruns, quality of service and effectiveness are ignored.   Contractors often take jobs below actual costs then significantly raise prices when government no longer has the  equipment of workforce to provide the service.   When a job is done improperly and the government has to take over the contract, they frequently just give the job to another contractor rather than re-institute the public service..  Government needs to take a tip from the private sector - union and employee participation are effective avenues for streamlining and creating cost effectiveness.
  The Florida AFL-CIO will work to develop legislative programs which will protect public workers and the vital services they perform.

Right To Organize Resolution
  The right to form and join unions has helped working families create better living standards and opportunities for many years.  Union have contributed to the growth of democracy, the well being and safer workplace for their members.  To recognize the importance of labor unions, the Florida AFL-CIO will seeks a legislative resolution to proclaim the week of June 24, 1999 as Workers Right to Organize Week.

Construction Industry Standards
  The Florida Building Codes Commission is charged with unifying state building codes for approval by the Legislature in the year 2000.  Many of the proposals being considered would further diminish codes and laws that are already weak.   There are no laws or enforceable local government provisions requiring minimum levels of competence for construction workers in Florida.  Shoddy construction, unsafe job sites and employees with inadequate training run rampant through the state's construction industry.  Consumers have a right to expect a quality product from a competent workforce.
  The Florida AFL-CIO urges the adoption of legislation that establishes appropriate criteria for certifying journeymen ratios and provisions for amendment of building codes at the local level.

Labor History
  Florida's public school system has no programs to teach labor history in our schools.  Legislation is needed to add this component of our nation's history to the curriculum so that students are informed about the role of the American labor movement in our democratic society

Public Education
  Floridians have sent a clear message to the Legislature that public education is a fundamental value and paramount duty of the state.  The Florida AFL-CIO urges the Legislature to adhere to the will of voters who mandated that public education be top priority in 1999
  To ensure a quality public school system, the Florida AFL-CIO will oppose vouchers or other schemes that undermine public education.  We will continue to support high standards of achievement and conduct competitive salaries for teachers and school related personnel -- the real cornerstone for attracting and retaining the best and brightest employees.

Public Employee Collective Bargaining
  Public Employees in Florida do not have the right to strike.  Under the current impasse procedure, local government legislative bodies frequently reject Special Master recommendations favoring the workers.  This non-binding impasse resolution procedure makes true collective bargaining difficult to achieve.  The Florida AFL-CIO proposes a method where by the terms and conditions agreed to during contract negotiations along with the recommendations of the Special Master, would be imposed for the remainder of the fiscal year if either party fails to ratify the contract.   During that time, the parties shall be under a continuous duty to bargain until an agreement is reached and ratified.

Pay Raises for State Employees
  Florida needs to continue its commitment to bring the salaries of state workers in line with private sector wages.  State employees on the lower end of the pay scale suffer the hardest, spending the greatest proportion of their income for basic necessities, and in many cases, qualify for food stamps and other assistance.  The Governor's office has proposed a 2.6% pay increase for state employees, effective July 1, 1999.  However, there is no provision to provide a minimum increase for lower-paid state employees.  The Florida AFL-CIO and its affiliates will work through the appropriations process to provide a meaningful wage increase for state employees.

Jai-Alai Industry
  Tax legislation passed in the 1998 Legislative session allowed the state's jai-alai industry to continue operating frontons.  This measure was a good beginning to ensure the long-term survival of the industry and its 1500 jobs.  This year, legislation to authorize additional gaming activities in Florida's pari-mutual facilities has been introduced.  The Florida AFL-CIO will closely watch this proposal and support it if certain safeguards are in place to protect the "live" jai-alai action and its players.

The legislative agenda of working and retired people of Florida is vast.  Other Areas of concern are:

  > Fair campaign finance reform
  > Safety and health in Florida's workplaces and communities
  > Common qualifying dates
  > Establishment of responsible employer standards for state contractors
  > Implementation of Project Labor Agreements
  > Access to quality child care
  > Electric utility deregulation
  > Employee rights in drug free workplaces
  > Decentralization of the Department of Labor
  > Telecommunications regulation
  > Long term care facilities staffing ratios