TALLAHASSEE, FL --On December 6, 2023, Florida Education Association staff hand delivered to the FL Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) petitions for recertification of the blue and white collar education support professionals units represented by Hernando United School Workers (HUSW). Accompanying these petitions were 572 signed showing of interest cards. Though FL Statute only requires 30% of the unit to sign in order to call for an election, the education support professionals of Hernando Schools rallied to gather 55% just days ahead of the deadline in order to protect their contract. The success of the card drive was due in no small part to the rank and file members and potential members of HUSW who mobilized to collect signatures at worksites across the district.
Notice of Sufficiency was provided by PERC on December 20th, and employees await details of the election which has been triggered--a process delayed by the overwhelming workload placed on PERC staff as public sector locals of all sizes across the state are forced to call for recertification on the heels of anti-union legislation passed during the 2023 legislative session. And though it may be uncertain exactly when the PERC recertification election will take place, a strong, thriving union is on the horizon.