Posted inNews
Retail workers vote to form Florida’s first H&M union
There are 15 unionized H&M store locations in New York, but no others in Florida.
McKenna Schueler
General news reporter for Orlando Weekly, with a focus on state and local government and workers' rights. You can find her bylines in Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, In These Times, and Facing South.
Posted inNews
A new organizing drive at Disney Springs sparks both excitement and some opposition
Hospitality workers who serve as the backbone of Central Florida’s economy ‘deserve better pay, and they deserve better benefits,’ says Orange County Dems chair.
Posted inNews
On International Workers Day, Orlando hotel workers rally to raise industry standards for all
Issues on the table include wages, pensions, reduced workloads and ending the exploitation of temp workers.
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Orlando abortion clinics remain open as Florida’s six-week abortion ban takes effect
Planned Parenthood clinics will remain operational, while a private clinic south of downtown plans to expand its services.
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Florida ranks next to dead last in average teacher pay nationwide, new report shows
This puts Florida at No. 50, behind only West Virginia in a ranking of all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
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Disney Springs Patina Restaurant Group workers seek to organize, ask employer for fair union process
Restaurant employees at five restaurants say they feel like ‘second-class citizens’ compared to unionized Disney workers.
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JetBlue accused of anti-union intimidation tactics at Orlando International Airport
Orlando’s Maxwell Frost joined other members of Congress in calling on JetBlue to allow for their employees to organize without unlawful interference.
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Orange County officially terminates agreement with dissolved OnePulse organization
An assistant county attorney also confirmed that OnePulse had repaid the state for the nearly $400,000 it received through a state grant in 2019.
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Supreme Court hears Starbucks union case
Meanwhile Clay Blastic, a worker at Central Florida’s only unionized Starbucks, will be present at bargaining talks kicking off this week.
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Florida lobbyists leaned on pols to get ban on local heat safety and wage laws across the finish line, records show
As an added ‘incentive,’ the Chamber noted that lawmakers’ votes would be double-weighted on their upcoming legislative report cards.
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UCF faculty, students rally in support of faculty’s contribution to student success amid salary dispute
The university has been criticized by students and faculty for not offering across-the-board raises for faculty this year.
Posted inCannabis
If signed by DeSantis, new law will ban hemp-derived products, including the CBD that saved Paige Figi’s daughter’s life
The Coalition for Access activist discusses how Florida’s SB 1698 will ‘throw out the baby with the bathwater.’
Posted inNews
H&M retail workers at Melbourne Square Mall seek to unionize
This would be the first recognized union of H&M employees in Florida.
Posted inNews
A tale of two Tax Day rallies: Orlandoans rally against U.S. military aid to Israel and demand tax refund from corporate lobbyists
‘We just want to get some of that money back so that our communities can benefit from it.’
Posted inNews
‘It’s unjust’: Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bill banning local heat safety and wage laws
The bill was a priority of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and other business groups.
Posted inNews
Amazon paid anti-union consultants in Central Florida hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2023
And some federally required information reported by the anti-union consultant appears to be fake.
Posted inNews
Dining workers at Rollins College will get a rerun union election following allegations of anti-union tactics
A federal labor official agreed with one of the union’s objections to the results of the first election, concerning alleged violations of federal labor law by the employer.
Posted inNews
Pressure builds for Florida Gov. DeSantis to veto bill to block local workplace heat protection measures
The bill has gained national attention as an attack on working-class Floridians who work outdoors.
Posted inNews
Central Florida advocates uplift effort to expand Medicaid in Florida
A campaign to expand Medicaid in Florida through the ballot box in 2026 was officially launched in February.
Posted inNews
Orange County teachers, school staff approve new union contract in nearly unanimous vote
The agreement, negotiated over a number of months, provides teacher raises of 8 to 10 percent for most