Responding to a story posted in REDBROWARD yesterday regarding their failure to meet the automatic union recertification threshold, the Broward Teachers Union called the matter “fake news.” In a Facebook post, the Union said “To all Members ! [BTU President] Anna [Fusco] will be sending an email to clear up all fake news.” REDBROWARD published details on BTU’s union certification issues contained in an email from Broward Schools Chief People Person David Azzarito.
In May 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 256 which “prohibited teachers’ unions from using government resources to have dues deducted directly from employee paychecks.” The law also required a union to be comprised of least 60% of dues paying employees.
The new law went into effect on July 1, 2023.
In an August 23, 2024 email to numerous District officials, Azzarito said the Broward Teachers Union did not meet the sixty percent threshold.
Azzarito said “All 3 BTU units fell below the 60% paying membership threshold to automatically recertify.” In order to petition the Florida Public Employees Realtions Commission (PERC) to an hold election to recertify the union, thirty percent of the membership must sign “interest cards.”
Azzarito said BTU met the thirty percent threshold.
As part of the process, once BTU meets the thirty percent threshold, it has thirty days to petition PERC for an election. In that election, fifty percent plus one of the respondents must vote to approve recertification.
According to the PERC website, there is no election set to recertify the Broward Teachers Union.
A database of State records complied by WLRN news shows the Broward Teachers Union filed its certification paperwork on April 16, 2024.
The BTU reported there were 13,724 eligible employees in the District. The BTU reported 7,178 dues-paying members.
This is 52.30%. Well below the sixty percent threshold.
Will the Broward Teachers Union allege emails from David Azzarito to School District officials are “fake news?”
Does BTU claim the State of Florida PERC website is “fake news?”
Does BTU think WLRN (public radio and television) is “fake news?”
Will BTU President answer questions at the next School Board meeting during her “union time?”
Will BTU get recertification any time soon?
