Jacksonville’s Duval Teachers United (DTU) failed to meet the 60% membership requirement set by Florida’s SB 256, forcing the union to seek recertification through a mandatory election. The deadline passed on Tuesday, and the union’s three membership categories fell short: teachers at 57%, paraprofessionals at 52% and office staff at 44%.
State law raises the bar for union certification
SB 256, enacted in 2023, requires labor unions representing public employees in Florida to maintain at least 60% membership among eligible workers to keep state certification. If a union drops below that level, it must petition the state and hold an election to retain its status. The law also eliminated payroll‑deduction dues, a change that union leaders say pushes employees toward “at‑will” employment.
New voting requirements add pressure
Earlier this year, lawmakers passed SB 1296, adding a voter‑turnout requirement of at least 50% of eligible employees for any recertification election. For DTU, that means more than 4,500 Duval Schools staff must cast ballots. Ballots are mailed via the U.S. Postal Service to the address the district has on file, and the union plans a phone‑bank of retirees to verify addresses after President Tammie Brooks‑Evans reported not receiving her own ballot in the last election.
Union leadership blames recent legislation
President Tammie Brooks‑Evans argued that the recent statutes target teachers’ unions and aim to turn public‑sector employees into at‑will workers. “We can’t let that happen in Duval. We can’t,” she said, emphasizing the union’s resolve to fight the changes.
Recent membership drive fell short
DTU’s membership has declined since its former president and vice president were sentenced to prison for embezzling $2.6 million by cashing in unearned sick leave. The union recruited 609 new members after July 1, but the numbers were insufficient to meet the statutory thresholds.
School board hires attorney with anti‑union background
Just a week earlier, the Duval County School Board voted 4‑3 to hire attorney David R. Osborne, whose résumé lists appointments with free‑market advocacy groups that oppose organized labor. Board members Charlotte Joyce, April Carney, Melody Bolduc and Tony Ricardo supported the hire; Reggie Blount, Cindy Pearson and Darryl Willie voted against it. Osborne’s experience includes representing Moms for Liberty in a 2024 free‑speech lawsuit and assisting 22 states in defending Florida’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.
Board members voice fiscal concerns
Board discussions have also focused on budget stewardship. Members debated consolidating the district’s communications office and chose not to renew Duval’s membership in the Council of Great City Schools. The general counsel position was advertised with a salary range of $190,000 to $250,000.
Union and education leaders respond
Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar criticized the state’s approach, saying lawmakers are “making it harder” for teachers to work with parents and provide a “uniform, safe, secure and high‑quality free public education.” He added that educators across the state have repeatedly voted to keep their unions and contracts despite legislative attempts to weaken them.
Next steps for DTU
DTU must now organize the required election, ensuring at least half of the district’s 9,000‑plus employees vote. The union plans to mobilize retirees to verify mailing addresses and to encourage members to return ballots promptly. The outcome will determine whether DTU retains its certification and bargaining rights under Florida law.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
