Florida's largest public-sector union has continued posting overwhelming victories in recertification elections across the state, three years after the governor pushed through sweeping restrictions on government worker organizing. Workers in Jacksonville, Polk County, Miami Gardens, DeFuniak Springs and Naples all voted overwhelmingly in recent weeks to retain union representation through AFSCME, according to union officials. The results demonstrate that despite significant initial challenges, AFSCME Florida has adapted to the regulatory changes and rebuilt its membership. Jacksonville city employees voted more than 98% in favor of recertification this week, continuing a successful year for the union. AFSCME Florida reported winning 30 of 32 recertification elections in 2025, with several victories coming from bargaining units that had initially lost certification under the state's 2023 restrictions.
The 2023 law, sponsored by Republican Senator Blaise Ingoglia and championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, dramatically raised the bar for union organizing in Florida. The measure increased membership requirements from 50% to 60% of a bargaining unit and eliminated automatic dues deductions from employee paychecks. The impact was immediate and severe. By May 2025, more than 100 unions had been decertified across Florida, with roughly 69,000 workers losing representation. AFSCME Local 1279 in Jacksonville was among those initially decertified in February 2024. However, the union recovered by re-registering hundreds of members, establishing a new dues payment system and holding extensive member meetings. In September, Local 1279 secured a new contract with Jacksonville by a 99% vote.
Arthur Finley, president of AFSCME Local 1279, called the 2023 law "massively disruptive legislation" that gave unions insufficient time to adjust. Despite the setback, Finley emphasized that union members remained committed to organizing. "We lost our union at the start, but working with the council and other AFSCME locals in the area, we were able to get on track and win it back," Finley said. The union's recent victories came despite additional restrictions taking effect July 1 through another measure that requires at least 50% of bargaining unit members to vote in certification elections and mandates recertification if dues-paying members fall below 60%.
DeSantis defended the new restrictions as targeting "partisan teacher unions" that lack genuine educator support. However, the Florida Education Association, representing approximately 120,000 members, disputed this characterization and pointed to Florida's poor rankings in teacher compensation and per-student funding. The Florida AFL-CIO countered claims of partisan union organizing, noting that more than 30% of Florida union members identify as Republican. Despite these ongoing legal obstacles, AFSCME's recertification margins, which mostly exceeded 90%, suggest sustained worker support for union representation.