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<div style="text-align:center"><b>Report on the Struggle in Florida and Request for Support<br></b></div><div style="text-align:center"><b>From PaulOrtiz, United Faculty of Florida<br></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Paul Ortiz <<a href="mailto:ortizprof@gmail.com" target="_blank">ortizprof@gmail.com</a>><br>
<b>Date:</b> May 16, 2023 at 03:16:03 EDT<br>
<b>Subject:</b> <b>Labor Update from Florida, Announcement of Union Lawsuit Against Governor DeSantis</b><br>
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<div dir="ltr">Dear Colleagues,
<p>Many of you have contacted me in recent days about the<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.alligator.org/article/2023/05/desantis-signs-dei-bill__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455olcFNdogQ$" target="_blank">
tyrannical,</a> <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://myuff.org/press-release-sb-266-will-cause-irreversible-harm-to-floridas-higher-education-system/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455onTveAbUw$" target="_blank">
anti-union legislation</a> being passed by the DeSantis regime in
Florida. I am providing a brief response to assure you that the United
Faculty of Florida (FEA/AFL-CIO) is engaged in a
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://uff-uf.org/presidents-message-on-attacks-on-academic-freedom/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455omE6LAWzA$" target="_blank">
massive struggle</a> against the governor and his <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2022/05/25/florida-desantis-notable-billionaire-supporters-koch-publix/9745715002/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455on-Ps4QjA$" target="_blank">
ruling class supporters</a>. Unfortunately, this struggle is not generally well covered in the corporate media, reason being, the
<i>Wall Street Journal</i>, and conservative voices across the nation
hold out the hope that DeSantis might serve as a "reasonable
alternative" to Donald Trump.
<br>
</p>
<p>Due to the fact that thousands of students, faculty, unionized
workers and our allies raised their voices last year, we achieved a
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://uff-uf.org/good-news-update-on-stop-woke-act-hb-7-implementation-from-uff-uf-president-paul-ortiz/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455omXVeAJtA$" target="_blank">
federal court temporary injunction</a> against Florida's "Stop Woke Act" that is still holding strong. Our local union chapter,
<span dir="auto">
UFF-UF took part in a <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://uff-uf.org/uff-statement-on-the-viewpoint-discrimination-survey-do-not-participate/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455ol_AWak5w$" target="_blank">
successful boycott </a>of Florida's discriminatory "viewpoint
discrimination" survey last spring. In response to DeSantis's efforts to
ban AP African American Studies during Black History Month, our union
co-sponsored a
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://hnn.us/article/185124__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455okgTkMiMg$" target="_blank">
3-hour teach in on Black Studies</a>. Even as we <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://uff-uf.org/urgent-comment-on-post-tenure-review-by-march-9-2023/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455ol0R6cv1g$" target="_blank">
successfully resisted efforts to completely destroy tenure in Florida</a>, defend gender studies and shared governance at UF, our union took time out to
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://uff-uf.org/chapter-resolution-in-support-of-striking-workers-at-rutgers-university/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455olxXxH4Jw$" target="_blank">
pass a resolution in support of striking workers at Rutgers University </a>and to send a donation to the strike fund.
<br>
</span></p>
<p><span dir="auto">Ron DeSantis has learned that
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.alligator.org/article/2023/05/black-horror-white-terror-class?fbclid=IwAR0bfFcR8i5vAqeqsRhOZNebEo_9wUouXcoGxFFA4F8C0YzHUAzDIJQnVNc__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455onUjXcE0w$" target="_blank">
he cannot fully control the thoughts and actions of Floridians</a> as
long as our public sector unions are standing. Each of our university
and college union chapters have strong academic freedom articles in our
collective bargaining agreements. At the University
of Florida, our chapter's <i>Article Ten: Academic Freedom and Responsibility</i> is the gem of our collective bargaining contract and a model for higher education union agreements.
<br>
</span></p>
<p><span dir="auto">This is why the Republican super-majority in Florida
last passed the anti-union SB 256 requiring 60% union membership in our
K-12 education locals as well as higher ed chapters--but exempted
police and firefighter's unions. Much to the chagrin of the Republicans
however, our chapters are in the midst of a historic
organizing campaign and signing up new members every day.<br>
</span></p>
<p><span dir="auto">I am also excited to report that The United Faculty
of Florida, University of Florida chapter has recently filed a <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida-unions-file-lawsuits-over-desantis-union-busting-bill-and-prepare-for-fight-ahead-34172462?fbclid=IwAR0EO_kcp2D0vPoffAjhtkPGG7MiuvCzkHDMt3VkDn_ELI6WIvZiSE4Xf2Y__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455okHE0ssiQ$" target="_blank">
complaint in federal court</a> alongside our colleagues <span></span>in
the K-12 Alachua County Education Association and the Florida Education
Association against DeSantis's efforts to crush our unions. This lawsuit
demonstrates the fact that the United Faculty
of Florida is not surrendering to the forces of authoritarianism and
fascism in Florida. You may read the text of our lawsuit
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://feaweb.org/release/fea-files-federal-lawsuit-against-sb-256/?fbclid=IwAR2lSJ2H_zeSVDAPhBOb3VIEz1DaT0CATT3YXO2nyTiYMxqQcp-gvjkkO5M__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455olvHvzaZg$" target="_blank">
here</a>. I am also providing the front piece and first page of our
lawsuit to this message. As a labor historian, I take special pleasure
in the fact that we are basing part of our argument on Article I,
Section 10 of the Federal Constitution, "the Contracts
Clause," which so often in US history has been used against us.
(Progress after all!)
<br>
</span></p>
<p><span dir="auto">Tyranny and thought control will not prevail in the
Sunshine State! I invite you to read our chapter's<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://uff-uf.org/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455okvhXnOKw$" target="_blank"> website
</a>for a chronicle of the struggles that we have waged over the past several years.<br>
</span></p>
This Thursday, May 18 at 1pm, EST I will be giving a presentation
titled: "Holding the Line in Florida: Preserving Black Studies and
Intellectual Freedom in Florida Through Union Power," at the
<i>Truth in Education:</i> <br>
<i>24 Hour Teach-In for American Democracy. </i>This is a 24-hour teach in with exciting themes and speakers as well as being an
<i>action oriented </i>event. I will be providing highlights from our recent struggles in the Sunshine State. Here is the registration<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.teachinfortruth.org__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455okH-iSCMQ$" target="_blank">
link</a> for this event which begins on Wednesday. Please share!<br>
<p>In Solidarity,</p>
Paul Ortiz
<p></p>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<div>We want to send a message to Gov. DeSantis and others who are
codifying restrictions in teaching and stoking fear among educators. We
will be offering action options throughout the 24 hours.
<b><u>WE NEED YOUR HELP to get people to join the Teach-In as viewers. Please post on social media and tell your networks.</u></b></div>
<div><b><font size="4">Registration for event. Please post this! </font></b><b><font size="4"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.teachinfortruth.org/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455onX8AP63A$" target="_blank">www.teachinfortruth.org</a> (please
share this today!)</font></b></div>
<div>
<p>-----------<br>
</p>
<pre cols="72">Paul Ortiz
Director, <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://oral.history.ufl.edu/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455olCc09K7Q$" target="_blank">Samuel Proctor Oral History Program</a>
Professor of <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://history.ufl.edu/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455okycBeYrg$" target="_blank">History</a>,
University of Florida Research Foundation Professor
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://antiracism.ufl.edu/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455okGNt3FZQ$" target="_blank">University of Florida</a>
Past President, <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.uff-uf.org/about-uff-uf/__;!!OToaGQ!qAPpNfQIkd4kcpByBhty4Z_wh_8cA1kxrCAcUb1UCRLhthhaYCVxSxEXIFek7Ihvbzu3l3455onC_sXyuA$" target="_blank">United Faculty of Florida-UF</a> (FEA/NEA/AFT/AFL-CIO) [2020-2023]
</pre></div></div></div></blockquote>
<div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><span><div><br></div><div>Andor Skotnes<br></div></span></div>Professor of History Emeritus</div><div>Russell Sage College<br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>