Thread by @FloridaEA

At 8am today the House State Affairs Committee will meet to discuss #HB1 a bill which is an attempt to silence the voice of working people in Florida. We'll keep you updated on this thread. As always, you can follow along live on The Florida Channel thefloridachannel.org

Chair Rep. @BlaiseIngoglia is laying out the ground rules. Says there are some bills that he expects will have a lot of people who want to speak and asks they consider waiving in support/opposition.

Looks like they'll hear quite a few bills before #HB1. We'll keep you updated.

@BlaiseIngoglia It was just announced that there will be two more bills before #HB1. We'll be providing live updates soon.

@BlaiseIngoglia Chair Rep. @BlaiseIngoglia says it is his intention to take the bill to 11am. This will provide just under 90 minutes for questions, public comment, and debate. You can watch live here: thefloridachannel.org

@BlaiseIngoglia Rep. Grant @JamesGrantFL introduces the bill and says it seeks a balance btw "right to work" and right to be a union member and right to collectively bargain. Here's a good explainer on the misnomer of "right to work." ohea.org/right-to-work/

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL Rep. @JamesGrantFL is introducing his amendment which would change the annual obligation to resign membership to every three years. See amendment here: myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Docum…

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL Justin Katz, president of @PBCCTA and Vice-Mayor of Boynton Beach, testifies on the amendment is "like putting lipstick on a pig," he says. Katz continues, "In effect, this will require a reauthorization every year."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA The amendment passes, and now the representatives will ask questions on the main bill as amended.

First in questioning is Rep. @TinaPolsky, "Is there a timeframe for the employer to act on receipt of an individual's request to join their union?"

Rep. @JamesGrantFL: No.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky Rep. @DianneHartFL is next in questioning, "Isn't joining a union already voluntary?"

Rep. @JamesGrantFL: "Perhaps, it's voluntary."

Reality: It's 100% voluntary.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL Rep. @TinaPolsky again points out the employer must confirm the employee's request to join a union and there is no timeframe for the employer to confirm the request. This could lead to chaos and a long wait between when a worker decides to join and when they become a member.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL Rep. @EmilySlosberg asks, "What is the danger of asking union members their reason of revoking their membership?

Rep. @JamesGrantFL: The amendment took care of that.

The amendment: "the form may not require a reason for the employee's decision to revoke his or her membership."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg Rep. Watson is next in questioning. He continues Rep. Polsky's line of questioning--"Should there be a threshold by which the employer gets back to the union member?"

Rep. @JamesGrantFL: "I'm happy to work on the balance."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg Questioning has concluded. Now is time for public testimony. Starting with those waiving in support/opposition.

Those waiving in opposition outnumbered those in support by 19-4.

Now, people will speak in support/opposition.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg People speaking will have 90 seconds each.

First is Felicia Bruce who says, "I want lawmakers to protect me...but to think you want to pass a law to protect me from myself is insulting." "#HB1 treats me as a weak-minded woman."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg A bus driver is next up to speak, "I wasn't going to speak, but I sat here and listed to all the lies about the union," as she speaks in opposition to #HB1

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg "When I first moved to Florida I worked for a non-union employer," says the next speaker. "Unions are here to protect us--who will suffer from this bill are working people," says the next speaker.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg Amy Hawkins, a teacher in Volusia, is up next. "We know how to unsubscribe," she tells the committee continuing a line of speakers pointing out the bill assumes union members didn't make the decision to join their union.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg Dawn Walker, a teacher in Manatee County, tells the committee, "If I want to discontinue my membership all I have to is send an email...do not add unnecessary, burdensome regulation on my colleagues or me. I strongly urge to oppose #HB1."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg Kevin Daly, president of @islandcoastfea, is next up to speak. "If I ever decide to leave my union, that is my choice. All I need to do is write an email--the process is already define in federal & state law...HB1 is designed to solve a problem that doesn't exist."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea Justin Katz, president of @PBCCTA, says "This is a tax." He points out that to verify membership of the over 7,300 members of the PBCCTA would require the school district to spend time and money they don't currently have budgeted."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall is up next to speak. He provides the committee with a history lesson, and then highlights some of the accomplishments including this $2 million win for professors at UF. gainesville.com/news/20191211/…

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall "Our main concern with the bill is the firefighter's membership status could be called into question and this could create a whole host of problems," says the next speaker, alluding to the questions asked earlier by Reps. @TinaPolsky and Watson.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall An SEIU representative is up next and points out that both current state law and the state constitution already balance the right to join a union vs. the right to not join, and that #HB1 undoes that balance.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall Martin Balinsky, a professor at Tallahassee Community College, joins a line of other speakers who points out current statute prohibits much of what Rep. @JamesGrantFL says is occurring and points out Rep. Grant has provided no evidence to back up his claims.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall Dr. Matthew Latta, a professor at FSU, is next to testify. He says, "This bill will allow the state to cancel a union member's membership. Not the individual the state. That's a real problem. I would ask legislators to see this bill as what it is thinly disguised union busting."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin is the final speaker. He says, "There are working people from all over the state in this room today. I hope you will consider them. Those in support of this bill are industry and billionaire-funded think tanks from outside of Florida."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin "A lot of people who have an ideological bent against working people who just want to make sure your families are protected," concludes @rtemplin who asks to submit dozens of handwritten letters to the committee.

Now time for debate.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin Rep. Watson is the first in debate. He explains his opposition to #HB1 and mentions that he was a member of the union as a police officer and says, "it is critical we trust the hardworking people of Florida" as

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin Rep. @TinaPolsky points out that she received over 1,000 emails last night asking her to oppose #HB1. "I have a background in employment law. I don't see in any way how this law benefits employers. It just seems like red tape. It only makes it harder for employees."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin "This bill is targeting out firefighters, our police, our teachers," says Rep. @Adam4Florida. "There is no widespread outcry for this legislation. Some people have said this bill is a solution in search of a problem. It's worse than that. It causes a problem."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin "When you are at home on a weekend, please thank a union for those two days off," concludes Rep. @Adam4Florida

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin Rep. @DianneHartFL says, "We're grown. We know what to do," as she voices her opposition to #HB1

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin Rep. @roth4florida speaks next. "I've gotten texts and emails from some of my firefighters...I consider them to be some of my best friends." He then says, "I'm in favor of this bill and there will be some unintended consequences."

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin @roth4florida @RepStevenson is next in debate and she says that "employers should have signed authorization before an employee joins a union."

She almost certainly knows that is already current law.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin @roth4florida @RepStevenson Debate has concluded and Rep. @JamesGrantFL is concluding on his bill. Once again, he provides no evidence to support a single claim he has made today.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin @roth4florida @RepStevenson #HB1 has passed. Vote total will be posted soon.

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin @roth4florida @RepStevenson Here are the votes. myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Commi…

@BlaiseIngoglia @JamesGrantFL @PBCCTA @TinaPolsky @DianneHartFL @EmilySlosberg @islandcoastfea @UFFMarshall @rtemplin @roth4florida @RepStevenson @threadreaderapp unroll, please.