Category: News

News for FIU, Florida and Unions across the nation.

Budget News

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  Legislative Update House and Senate budget conferees met throughout the weekend after agreement was reached on allocations to the various budget entities. This Legislative Update was delayed to report on those activities as it relates to higher education. Unfortunately, some of the compromises made are potentially harmful to UFF members. Note: The final 2017 Legislative Update will probably be on May 8th should session end on time. Check the progress of the following: Details… Continue reading

Florida Legislature, Update 7

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  Legislative Update – Session Update #7 May 1, 2017 Legislature Poised to End May 5th House and Senate budget conferees met throughout the weekend after agreement was reached on allocations to the various budget entities. This Legislative Update was delayed to report on those activities as it relates to higher education. Unfortunately, some of the compromises made are potentially harmful to UFF members. Note: The final 2017 Legislative Update will probably be on May… Continue reading

Florida Legislature, Update 5

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  Legislative Update – Session Update #5 April 13, 2017 House and Senate Adopt 2017-18 Budget Proposals Both House and Senate passed their versions of the 2017-18 state budget this week. This paves the way for joint meetings of the House and Senate members appointed to the various conference committees to meet in the coming weeks with hopes of an agreement to be reached by May 2nd. This allows for the 72-hour waiting period where… Continue reading

Health Insurance

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Health Insurance HB 7007 – University Employees Health Insurance – Filed by Health and Human Services Committee. Passed all committees, ready for floor vote. Provides for a tiered system of benefits HB 7007 is on the floor of the Florida House of Representatives tomorrow afternoon, March 22nd, for consideration. The normal process is adding amendments, if any, on second reading and final vote on the next day of session. In this case, that would probably be… Continue reading

Union Busting

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  Union Busting Bill Today we saw the release of the first anti-union legislation to be filed for the 2017 legislative session (HB 11 Information) . This union busting bill comes as no surprise as we have seen efforts like this in Florida before – and numerous nationwide attempts to weaken unions. This is politically and ideologically motivated. If a senate companion is filed and the bills are passed by both chambers, HB 11 by… Continue reading

Ratification Vote

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  UFF-FIU Contract Ratification Vote Tuesday, March 21 and Wednesday, March 22 Venues at MMC, BBC, and the Engineering Center Modesto Maidique Campus Green Library, First Floor, By The Escalators Biscayne Bay Campus Glenn Hubert Library, First Floor Lobby, in Front of the Circulation Desk Engineering Campus College of Engineering Lobby The members of the bargaining unit, meaning all faculty for which the collective bargaining agreement covers, are invited to vote thumbs up or thumbs… Continue reading

Student Support

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  Student Food Pantry drive Bring food to the Chapter Meeting At the upcoming chapter meeting, we are holding a food drive. If you have a moment, please join us in bringing any of the following items, which the Student Food Pantry reports are running low, to the chapter meeting: Grains: Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta rice and rice mixes canned pastas noodle mixes dry noodles and pastas macaroni and cheese mix cold cereals bran… Continue reading

Florida Legislature, Update 2

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  Legislative Update Pre-Session #2 February 24, 2017 Who Says Public Employee Unions Do Not Have Power? Representative Scott Plakon (R-Seminole) obviously thinks UFF and other public employee unions are not good for Florida as he has filed HB 11 which establishes a decertification process for those public sector unions having less than 50% membership. This union busting tactic is not new for Plakon as he filed a similar bill in 2011. That bill never… Continue reading

CBA Ratification

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Pre-Ratifaction Information Pre-Ratification Meeting In preparation for ratification of the proposed 2016-2017 ammendment to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the UFF-FIU invites bargaining unit members to an information meeting at the Spring Chapter Meeting: Tuesday, March 7, 2017 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Wertheim Conservatory, WC 130 (MMC) Marine Science Reading Room, MSB 105 (BBC via Polycom teleconferencing) Continue reading

Florida Legislature, Opening Session

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  Legislative Update February 10, 2017 Higher Education was at center stage this week in Senate interim committee meetings. The Legislature officially convenes the 2017 Legislative Session on Tuesday, March 7th. On Monday, February 6, the Senate Education Committee passed SB 374 which has been dubbed the “College Competitiveness Act” by Senate leaders. According to Senate President Joe Negron’s press release, “Senate Bill 374 reinstates a statewide coordinating board for the Florida Community College System,… Continue reading