Miami's Largest Teacher's Union Facing Existential Threat

The United Teachers of Dade, a union representing 25,000 Miami school workers, is facing an unprecedented threat to its existence. A Florida law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in May, has put the nation's third-largest teachers union in a precarious position. The law mandates that unions can no longer automatically deduct dues from paychecks, and instead, teachers must voluntarily contribute. Additionally, a union must have at least 60% of its members paying dues to avoid dissolution.

Governor DeSantis has been vocal in his support for these measures, arguing that unions should not continue as 'zombie organizations' without significant support from their members. The United Teachers of Dade failed to meet the 60% threshold, with only 56% of its members contributing. This has raised concerns about dissatisfaction among the union's members.

While the union has labeled the law as 'onerous' and 'anti-worker,' critics argue that it reflects growing disillusionment with unions due to a variety of reasons, including low salaries and perceived political bias. The issue of teacher pay in Florida is particularly contentious, with educators struggling to make ends meet despite years of service.

Amidst this turmoil, a new organization has emerged to challenge the United Teachers of Dade's authority. The Miami-Dade Education Coalition, backed by the Freedom Foundation, presents itself as an apolitical alternative. The coalition has highlighted concerns about the use of union dues and has criticized the existing union's leadership. As a newcomer, the coalition only needs to gather 10% of the district's school staff to appear on the ballot, significantly lower than the requirements for the existing union.

The United Teachers of Dade must now rally support from its members to demonstrate continued legitimacy. However, this challenge has led to increased scrutiny and contention within the Miami school worker community.