McKenna Schueler

Orange County crafts resolution opposing an ICE detention facility Orange County commissioners will discuss a resolution that expresses opposition to the conversion of warehouses into ICE detention facilities.

Orange County staff have crafted a resolution opposing the conversion of an industrial warehouse in Orlando into an ICE detention facility. Doesn't have any real teeth but shows you where county leaders stand. www.orlandoweekly.com/news/orange-...

Florida lawmakers unanimously advance bill to expand protections for temp workers A bill that would help temp workers and day laborers secure permanent employment advanced through a Senate committee of lawmakers this week.

The Florida Senate voted 34-0 today to approve a bill (SB 1112) that would strengthen protections for temp workers under Florida’s Labor Pool Act.

Catch is, its twin in the House hasn’t advanced at all. Session is scheduled to end next Friday. www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida...

Florida Legislature preserves secret identities Legislation to unmask immigration agents languishes in session’s final days Legislation that would ban law enforcement and immigration officers from

Florida Legislature refuses to give hearings to bill banning immigration agents from wearing masks hiding their identities.

A few other journalists have reported on the new slew of anti-union bills over the last week or so, now that it looks like they’ll pass (or appear more likely to), but I appreciate the recognition!

From “Right-to-Work” to “No-Right-to-Exist”: Florida Public Education Sector Unions in an Age of Authoritarianism - New Labor Forum Editor's Note This article appears as SB 1296 makes its way through the Florida Senate this month. SB 1296, which requires 50% of a bargaining unit to vote in favor of representation for union recerti...

For any journalists covering Florida's anti-union SB 1296, this new academic article published in the New Labor Forum offers useful background and data on how FL's 2023 anti-union law has affected public sector unions, with a focus on education unions newlaborforum.cuny.edu/2026/02/23/f...

Florida bill targeting unions inches closer to final passage despite some GOP concern The Florida Capitol. Florida lawmakers are rapidly advancing legislation backed by anti-union special interest groups that would make it harder for most

“This does not stand for Republican values. It is more government, more intrusion, more red tape,” said Lisa Bush, a nurse of 25 years at Jackson Memorial Hospital who described herself as a “proud” Republican testifying against Florida's SB 1296 www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida...

Rusty Brown, a lobbyist for the Freedom Foundation — a primary backer of anti-union legislation (SB 1296) rapidly advancing thru the FL Legislature — openly admits his group’s goal is to reduce or eliminate public sector unions, not just boost “accountability”

Last month in Florida: New organizing and union election results (Feb. 2026) Catch up on new union organizing, feat. restaurant workers at Tampa International Airport, union staff, supervisory public employees on the Treasure Coast and more.

At the same time, we continue to see new organizing in Florida and union members voting in favor of recertifying their unions, as is now required under state law for most public sector unions with a dues-paying membership of below 60% open.substack.com/pub/caringcl...

What’s on tap: Florida labor bills on the move (Week 7 recap) An overview of bills affecting workers rights that advanced during week six of Florida's 2026 state legislative session.

Anti-union bills are on the move in Florida. The latest: open.substack.com/pub/caringcl...

Florida bill targeting unions could be unconstitutional, staff analysis warns Florida Sen. Jonathan Martin defends SB 1296 during its first committee stop (Feb. 11, 2026) A new proposal from Florida lawmakers that would make it

You can read more about the Florida legislation and where it comes from here. The House version (HB 995) has already cleared all of its committees, largely along party lines, with GOP in favor, Dems against.

www.orlandoweekly.com/news/labor/f...

caringclassrevolt.substack.com/p/florida-re...

Florida union members plan to rally this Monday to protest Wisconsin-style anti-union legislation that would effectively make it harder for most public employees to form or retain their existing unions. The Senate bill's final committee stop is Monday at 12pm.

The Florida Education Association and other local teachers unions filed a complaint with the Public Employees Relations Commission about this. The agency admitted they'd paid for return postage at one point but later decided to just stop.

Complaint is here: perc.myflorida.com/download.asp...

One of Florida's pettier and underappreciated union-busting strategies (justified as a change in budget priorities) implemented over the last year is the state's refusal to provide return postage for public employees who are only allowed to vote in a union election by mail.

Mamdani pitched Trump on building massive housing development in Sunnyside, Queens Sources tell Gothamist that Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke with President Donald Trump about reviving a plan to build 12,000 housing units over the railyard in Sunnyside.

Mamdani pitched Trump on building massive housing development in Sunnyside, Queens gothamist.com/news/mamdani...

Florida Republicans advance bill to allow ‘opportunity’ to earn less than minimum wage A panel of Florida lawmakers have advanced a bill (HB 221) that would allow certain types of workers to temporarily “opt out” of being paid minimum wage.

You can read more about that bill here: www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida...

A FL bill (HB 221) that would have allowed employers to pay certain entry-level workers less than minimum wage was temporarily postponed during its 3rd committee stop last night. The committee isn't expected to meet again this session and the Senate version hasn't moved at all.

Trump’s immigration agenda sows fear among Central Florida tourism workers President Donald Trump’s mass immigrant detention and deportation agenda is creating a climate of fear and uncertainty for immigrant workers in Central

Trump’s immigration agenda is sowing fear among Central Florida tourism workers, including TPS holders from Haiti at Disney World’s Epcot who have lived here for nearly 20 years www.orlandoweekly.com/news/immigra...

Bummed that general admission is closed/sold out for the 2026 @labornotes.bsky.social conference but glad it’s popular and already feeling the FOMO

Actual Q for labor folks: Do any other states in the country require a majority of public sector workers in a bargaining unit to vote in favor of unionization for the union to prevail, instead of just a majority of those who vote?

That's what this legislation would do (just in part)

Supporters of the legislation have explicitly targeted teachers' unions, but opponents who have shown up to Tallahassee to testify against the legislation include other blue-collar workers who would also be affected, such as bus drivers, utility workers, code compliance officers, and more.

Florida bill targeting unions could be unconstitutional, staff analysis warns Florida Sen. Jonathan Martin defends SB 1296 during its first committee stop (Feb. 11, 2026) A new proposal from Florida lawmakers that would make it

Florida Republicans are moving forward with legislation that could wipe out many remaining public sector unions in Florida and make it harder for most public employees (not just teachers) to form a union in the first place. It could also be unconstitutional www.orlandoweekly.com/news/labor/f...

When you're sponsoring legislation targeting unions and neutrality agreements, it might be a good idea to make sure you know the difference between the concepts of 'right-to-work' and 'at-will' and maybe try to understand what a neutrality agreement actually does, too. Just thinking out loud.

What’s on tap: Florida labor bills on the move (Week 6 recap) An overview of bills affecting workers rights that advanced during week six of Florida's 2026 state legislative session.

On tap next week in the FL Legislature: A bill that'd strengthen protections for temp workers & a bill that'd disqualify private employers from state incentives if they agree to remain neutral during union drives or grant a union voluntary recognition caringclassrevolt.substack.com/p/whats-on-t...

Bad news: I went on a bike ride after work and fell off my bike LOL

Good news: I am mostly fine

Better news: I am now smoking a cigar to close out another stressful/tense week in the Sunshine State (as certain anti-worker bills continue to advance in the Florida Legislature)

Union nurses protest ICE in Largo [Photos] Dressed in bright colors and costumes, nurses held signs reading "Nurses say Abolish ICE" and "ICE not welcome here" while waving at cars driving by the hospital.

Nurses unionized with National Nurses United rallied in Largo, Florida this morning (near Tampa) to protest ICE, captured by @davedeckerphoto.bsky.social for @cltampabay.bsky.social www.cltampa.com/news/union-n...

Florida agency quietly removes tool to find licensed abortion clinics in the state A Florida health agency has quietly removed from its website an accessible way for people to search for licensed abortion clinics in the state, in a move that critics argue decreases transparency.

#Florida agency quietly removes tool for finding licensed abortion clinics www.orlandoweekly.com/news/abortio... via @shecarrieson.bsky.social

Florida agency quietly removes tool to find licensed abortion clinics in the state A Florida health agency has quietly removed from its website an accessible way for people to search for licensed abortion clinics in the state, in a move that critics argue decreases transparency.

Florida agency quietly removes tool to find licensed abortion clinics in the state www.orlandoweekly.com/news/abortio...

Discovery Cove accused of refusing to recognize divers’ union, violating federal labor law Discovery Cove in Orlando has allegedly refused to acknowledge its divers' union and has failed to begin bargaining a contract with them.

Discovery Cove accused of refusing to recognize divers’ union, violating federal labor law

Orange County mayor Jerry Demings threatens to cancel agreement with ICE over costs Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings sent a letter to federal officials last Friday, threatening to cancel the county’s

Orange County mayor Jerry Demings threatens to cancel agreement with ICE over costs

Discovery Cove accused of refusing to recognize divers’ union, violating federal labor law Discovery Cove in Orlando has allegedly refused to acknowledge its divers' union and has failed to begin bargaining a contract with them.

Discovery Cove, a sister theme park to SeaWorld, is accused of refusing to recognize and bargain with their divers’ union, violating federal labor law www.orlandoweekly.com/news/discove...