Organizing Florida (April 2025): New Union Organizing and Union Election Results
Catch up on new organizing in Florida, feat. divers at SeaWorld, airport food service employees, and more.
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Florida, like other states in the South, is regularly dismissed as a “non-union” state, where decades of anti-union policies, and deep-rooted corporate and political resistance to unions have stunted and degraded the labor movement’s power.
Only about 6% of workers in Florida even have union representation, and just 5% are dues-paying union members — below the national average. But new organizing does happen here in the Sunshine State, maybe more often than you’d think.
In order to file a petition for a union election, at least 30% of workers need to sign what are known as showing-of-interest cards demonstrating their support for unionization (generally, organizers shoot for a higher percentage, in case the employer tries to water down support for the union ahead of the election). Unions can also seek certification through a voluntary recognition/card-check process, which requires showing that a majority (more than 50%) of workers support unionization.
Here’s a rundown of new organizing drives that launched last month and union election results:
This roundup is inspired by Jonah Furman’s retired Who Gets the Bird? newsletter (RIP) and The Valley Labor Report’s similar roundup of new organizing, election results, and labor updates across the U.S. South.
ORGANIZING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
13 divers at the aquatic theme park SeaWorld in Orlando, FL (owned by parent company United Parks and Resorts) filed a petition to unionize with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 30.
8 personal computer (PC) support technicians, field technicians, help desk analysts and others employed by Leidos at the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, FL filed a petition to join an existing bargaining unit represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2088.
24 bus and van operators employed by transportation company ProKel Mobility in Jacksonville, FL filed a petition to unionize with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
185 warehouse workers employed by United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) at facilities in Miami and Pompano Beach, FL have filed a petition to unionize with the Teamsters Local 769.
Going deeper: More than 1,000 UNFI workers have organized with the Teamsters in the last year alone, according to the union, including other UNFI workers in Florida who just ratified their first union contract.
Food service employees who work in the Delta Airlines lounge at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, FL have reportedly chosen to unionize with Unite Here Local 362, according to a announcement from the union (it’s unclear how many workers this affects; Local 362’s president declined to discuss).
Going deeper: Because there’s no record of a union election conducted through the NLRB or the National Mediation Board (overseeing labor relations in the airline industry), I’m assuming the workers asked their employer for voluntary union recognition and received it.
ELECTION RESULTS
Gathered from the National Labor Relations Board:
Security guards employed by SeaWorld in Orlando, FL unanimously voted 55 to 0 in favor of unionizing with the International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA), out of 71 eligible voters.
Utility workers for People Gas System (doing business as TECO) in Tampa, FL voted 19 to 7 in favor of decertifying the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 108 as their union, out of 29 eligible voters.
Foremen, apprentices, linemen equipment operators and others employed by the Southern Electric Corporation of Mississippi in Pembroke Pines, FL voted 39 to 49 against unionizing with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 222, out of 100 eligible voters.
Going deeper: The union has since filed objections to the election results (it’s unclear to me what their objections/allegations are). As I mentioned back in February, Southern Electric Corporation workers in Miami, FL similarly launched a campaign to unionize with Local 222 in 2023, but ultimately ended up voting 47 to 56 against unionization.
ORGANIZING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Obtained (largely, if not exclusively) through public records requests submitted to the Public Employees Relations Commission:
Utility leads, warehouse managers, electronics system leads, and other blue-collar supervisory workers employed by Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, FL have filed a petition to unionize with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 79. According to a petition I obtained through a records request, 29 workers have already signed cards in support of unionization, out of 33 employees eligible.
Going deeper: AFSCME Council 79 already represents food service workers for Duval County Public Schools (who are technically employed by contractor Chartwells K12). Other white-collar and blue-collar workers for Duval County Schools are similarly represented by other labor unions, including LiUNA Local 630, the IBEW Local 177, and Duval Teachers United, among others.
Detention deputies and sergeants employed by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office in Port St. Lucie, FL have filed a petition to unionize with the International Union of Police Associations. According to a petition I obtained through a records request, 72 workers have already signed cards in support of unionization, out of 215 employees eligible.
Going deeper: Records show the IUPA previously tried and failed multiple times in the past to raid an existing bargaining unit of St. Lucie County detention deputies represented by the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association (formerly known as the Coastal Florida PBA). It appears that the IUPA already represents St. Lucie County deputy sheriffs (although they’ve fought with the Palm Beach County PBA/Coastal Florida PBA over that group of employees, too). St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office sergeants, for their part, just recently unionized with the Palm Beach County PBA last month.
Environmental specialists, activity project managers, zoning technicians and other employees of Volusia County in Daytona Beach, FL have filed a petition to unionize with AFSCME Council 79. According to a petition I obtained through a records request, 17 workers have already signed cards in support of unionization, out of 48 employees eligible.
Going deeper: AFSCME Council 79 previously represented blue-collar workers for the Volusia County school district — before their union was decertified for having a low dues-paying membership (and for failing to file a petition for recertification) last year. As I reported back in December, however, those workers have since filed a petition to unionize with Volusia United Educators, the teachers union.
A group of Miami Beach city employees have filed a petition seeking **voluntary recognition of their union, affiliated with the Communications Workers of America. According to the petition, obtained through a records request, these workers were previously covered by a collective bargaining unit that expired last September. According to PERC records, the workers’ union with the CWA was decertified by the state in November due to low membership density and the union’s failure to file a petition for a recertification election. Within the petition, the union notes that a majority (over 50%) of the 338 employees have signed cards in support of unionization, and the employer (city of Miami Beach) is “satisfied” with this showing of interest.
Supervisory utility, gas, and warehouse workers employed by Gainesville Regional Utilities in Gainesville, FL have filed a petition seeking voluntary recognition of their union, affiliated with the Communications Workers of America. According to PERC records, the CWA previously tried to amend existing bargaining units of Gainesville employees to add in the GRU employees, but PERC decided that was not an appropriate way for the workers to officially join the CWA. So, it appears that the CWA is instead seeking to represent the workers through the voluntary union recognition process. Within their petition, the union notes that a majority (over 50%) of the 48 employees have signed cards in support of unionization, and indicates the employer is “satisfied” with this showing of interest.
A much larger group of non-supervisory workers employed by the Gainesville Regional Utilities in Gainesville, FL have also filed a petition seeking voluntary recognition of their union, affiliated with the Communications Workers of America. Within their petition, the union notes that a majority (over 50%) of the 491 employees have signed cards in support of unionization, and indicates the employer is “satisfied” with this showing of interest.
The Hillsborough County Fire Fighters, affiliated with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), has filed a petition to transfer paramedics and rescue lieutenants in Tampa, FL that they currently represent within Hillsborough County Fire Rescue to a different bargaining unit they have, representing communications specialists and dispatchers. It’s unclear why. Nonetheless, the union filed a petition for voluntary union recognition in order to initiate this transfer. Within their petition, the union notes that a majority (over 50%) of the 8 employees have signed cards in support of unionization, and indicates the employer is “satisfied” with this showing of interest.
ELECTION RESULTS
Gathered from the state Public Employees Relations Commission:
911 dispatchers for the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in Bunnell, FL voted 16 to 3 in favor of unionizing with the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA), out of 27 eligible voters.
Bus attendants, food service workers, mechanics, paraprofessionals and other non-instructional employees for Charlotte County Public Schools in Port Charlotte, FL voted 241 to 19 in favor of *recertifying the Charlotte County Support Personnel Association as their union, out of 986 eligible voters.
Accountants, daycare facilitators, registered nurses, and other non-instructional employees for Nassau County Public Schools in Fernandina Beach, FL voted 357 to 15 in favor of recertifying the Nassau Teachers’ Association as their union, out of 980 eligible voters.
Behavioral aides, paraprofessionals, bus aides, and other non-instructional employees for St. Lucie County Public Schools in Port St. Lucie, FL voted 120 to 6 in favor of recertifying the Education Association of St. Lucie as their union, out of 1005 eligible voters.
Classroom behavioral specialists, computer programmers, licensed nurses, and other non-instructional employees for Leon County Public Schools in Tallahassee, FL voted 234 to 10 in favor of recertifying the Leon Educational Staff Professional Association as their union, out of 966 eligible voters.
Maintenance workers, wastewater technicians, nature preserve rangers, and other blue-collar employees of the city of St. Petersburg, FL voted 130 to 15 in favor of recertifying the Service Employees International Union-Florida Public Sector Union (SEIU-FPSU) as their union, out of 885 eligible voters.
Teachers, media specialists, school counselors, and other instructional personnel employed by Charlotte County Public Schools in Port Charlotte, FL voted 380 to 22 in favor of recertifying Charlotte FEA as their union, out of 1138 eligible voters.
White-collar workers employed by the city of Tamarac, FL voted 41 to 1 in favor of recertifying the Federation of Public Employees as their union, out of 97 eligible voters.
Carpenters, equipment operators, utility workers, and other blue-collar workers employed by the city of Tamarac, FL voted 61 to 0 in favor of recertifying the Federation of Public Employees as their union, out of 100 eligible voters.
Clerical employees of Broward County Public Schools in Fort Lauderdale, FL voted 460 to 12 in favor of recertifying the Federation of Public Employees as their union, out of 1,927 eligible voters.
Customer service reps, treatment plant operators, and other water & sewer department employees of Miami-Dade County in Miami, FL voted 1083 to 11 in favor of recertifying the Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department Employee’s Local 121 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, out of 1933 eligible voters.
Teachers, school psychologists, media specialists, and other school staff employed by Taylor County Public Schools in Perry, FL voted 45 to 7 in favor of recertifying the Taylor Education Association as their union, out of 188 eligible voters.
Full-time faculty, librarians, and counselors employed by Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL voted 234 to 2 in favor of recertifying the Faculty United Service Association (FUSA) as their union, out of 344 eligible voters.
Going deeper: Notably, adjunct faculty at Hillsborough Community College, formerly represented by the Service Employees International Union-Florida Public Sector Union (SEIU-FPSU), saw their union decertified by the state last year after FPSU failed to file a petition for recertification. Which is an interesting segue to…
Campus services managers, facilities managers, and other non-instructional supervisory personnel employed by Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL voted 15 to 3 in favor of recertifying the Service Employees International Union-Florida Public Sector Union (SEIU-FPSU) as their union, out of 89 eligible voters.
Academic advisors, accountants, job placement assistants, and other professional employees employed by Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL voted 53 to 3 in favor of recertifying the Service Employees International Union-Florida Public Sector Union (SEIU-FPSU) as their union, out of 193 eligible voters.
Bus drivers, custodians, maintenance workers, and other blue-collar employees of Leon County Public Schools in Tallahassee, FL voted 174 to 3 in favor of recertifying the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 1010, out of 664 eligible voters.
Blue-collar and white-collar employees of the city of Pompano Beach, FL voted 89 to 6 in favor of recertifying the Federation of Public Employees as their union, out of 448 eligible voters.
Food service staff employed by Broward County Public Schools in Fort Lauderdale, FL voted 185 to 3 in favor of recertifying the Federation of Public Employees as their union, out of 1244 eligible voters.
Mechanics, maintenance workers, utilities electricians, and other blue-collar personnel employed by the city of Cocoa Beach, FL voted 19 to 0 in favor of recertifying the Laborers International Union of North America Local 630, out of 51 eligible voters.
Child care service specialists, school secretaries, graphic artists, and other white-collar employees of Polk County Public Schools in Bartow, FL voted 181 to 2 in favor of recertifying the Polk Education Association as their union, out of 521 eligible voters.
Teachers, guidance counselors, media specialists, and other school staff employed by Suwannee County Public Schools in Live Oak, FL voted 86 to 14 in favor of recertifying United Teachers of Suwannee County as their union, out of 395 eligible voters.
Bus drivers, plumbing and AC technicians, nurses, paraprofessionals, and other non-instructional staff employed by Madison County Public Schools in Madison, FL voted 19 to 4 in favor of recertifying the Madison County Education Association as their union, out of 134 eligible voters.
Child care assistants, data entry workers, and other non-instructional white collar employees for Santa Rosa County Public Schools in Milton, FL voted 320 to 23 in favor of recertifying the Santa Rosa Education Association as their union, out of 848 eligible voters.
School secretaries, customer service representatives, computer operators, and other non-instructional white-collar employees for Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, FL voted 188 to 13 in favor of recertifying the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association as their union, out of 1,092 eligible voters.
*Note on recertification: Under a controversial state law enacted in 2023 (S.B. 256), public sector unions are forced to petition for a recertification election if they report less than 60% membership to the state. Under the new law, unions must maintain a dues-paying membership of at least 60% of employees eligible for union representation. If they do not, they must petition for recertification within 30 days of submitting annual registration renewal paperwork to the state. If they do not file such a petition, the bargaining unit is decertified.
**This is interesting in part because there was a slate of bills filed by Florida Republicans this year, at the urging of the anti-union Freedom Foundation, to eliminate the option of unionizing by way of voluntary union recognition. This process negates the need for a union election — the only other path towards gaining formal union certification by the state. However, it appears these bills have stalled, and it’s highly unlikely they’ll pass before the end of lawmakers’ legislative session.
That’s it for this month. Have thoughts? Feedback? Drop a comment below.