Florida judge allows blocking of automatic union dues deduction starting Saturday

The Capitolist ^ | June 27th 2023 | Brian Burgess

[Jacquerie]

With a looming implementation date of Saturday, July 1st, Leon County circuit judge J. Lee Marsh denied a plea on Tuesday to prevent a portion of the law that bars government workers from having union fees automatically deducted from their wages.

The decision arrived after three unions and three union members from South Florida sought a temporary injunction against the imminent changes. This decision follows a similar ruling on Monday where a federal judge refused a similar request made by teachers unions.

The law in question, SB 256, was signed into effect by Governor Ron DeSantis last month, sparking the legal challenges. The law places a raft of new constraints on public employee unions. Supporters of the bill argue that the law will lead to increased transparency, while critics decry it as a politically-charged move aimed at weakening unions.

One of the most contentious elements of the law puts an end to the long-standing practice of automatically deducting union dues from employees’ salaries. The lawsuit filed in Leon County saw legal representatives for unions from cities such as Miami Beach, North Miami Beach, Deerfield Beach, Riviera Beach, and West Palm Beach argue that the law breaches collective bargaining rights and will pose a financial threat to unions.

Plaintiffs argued that the new law “threatens the union’s very viability.” However, Jason Gonzalez, a lawyer for the defendant in the lawsuit, the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission, countered that asking employees to pay their dues via alternate methods will not “irreparably harm” unions.

After listening to over three hours of debate, Marsh ruled that the change does not infringe on collective bargaining rights as it does not significantly impact wages, hours, or conditions of employment, but instead is merely a shift in payment methods.

[TexasGator]

Another DeSantis win. Walking the walk.

[FlingWingFlyer]

You need to pay your union dues to keep the Dung Beetle Party and it’s secret brand of “american democrazy” alive in America.

[ConservativeInPA]

Plaintiffs argued that the new law “threatens the union’s very viability.”

Really? And their point is what? 😂 sucks to be you, union scum. Hopefully, the conflicting decisions get sorted soon.

[Tell It Right]

Understanding the triple negative:

"...judge J. Lee Marsh denied a plea on Tuesday to prevent a portion of the law that bars government workers from having union fees automatically deducted from their wages."

So I'm taking it to mean that the judge's decision prevents union dues from being automatically deducted from paychecks. LOL

[TexasGator]

“So I’m taking it to mean that the judge’s decision prevents union dues from being automatically deducted from paychecks. LOL”

State law prevents it

[Bellagio]

Plaintiffs argued that the new law "threatens the union’s very viability."

So the union's viability relies on "automatic" non-elective payments.

That's very fascist of the union's.

[dadfly]

great news. i think Scott Walker was able to do something like this in WI.

[FrankRizzo890]

You’d think if they were providing as much value as they’ve always CLAIMED, that workers would be HAPPY to pay the dues.

I guess the only “value” they provide is not intimidating you.

[Reno89519]

A tremendous, court-approved success! Can DeSantis get this approved nationally—maybe he’ll have a Republican House and Senate and can get them to go along with this.

[faithhopecharity]

I’ve always thought unions should at least sell themselves to workers including each new hire — if only that it keeps the union responsive to its members

Automatic enrollment amounts to forced association/ speech in violation of the First Amendment and confiscation of a person’s earnings via state action (enforcement of the taking)

[1Old Pro]

Dues should be paid by check or deducted from your bank account, NOT from your pay.

[Chode]

damn right!!!

[Joe Brower]

Plaintiffs argued that the new law “threatens the union’s very viability.”

Music to my ears.

Florida Freeper

I'm compiling a list of FReepers interested in Florida-related topics.
If you want to be added, please FReepMail me.

[CodeToad]

Excellent. History shows people opt-out quickly.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[zeugma]

Too bad we can’t also get rid of withholding for the feral government as well. If people actually had to physically write checks for all that crap, government would change drastically, and quickly for the better.

[bankwalker]

national sales tax cures that ...

[Jacquerie]

Agree.

For decades, my wife and I had to write quarterly estimated tax checks to the IRS.

I gives one a different perspective of government spending.

[TBP]

I wonder how the unions will try to get around it, and how the governor will respond.