Florida passed a new law requiring unions to have over 60% teacher enrollment to be considered a union last year. This could cause many Floridian unions to lose representation and their Union altogether, including the BTU.
But what exactly does the Broward Teachers Union do, and why are unions in general important?
In remembrance of Labor Day, our CSHS representative of the BTU, Mrs. Blake, will answer that question.
“It’s for the better-meant of students overall, it’s for the betterment of- you know of course, for teachers as well,” said Mrs. Blake when asked of the importance of the BTU for our school’s teachers and students alike.
She explains that she and the union help educators in Broward County negotiate pay raises, contract violations, classroom emergencies, as well as hold PLC meetings (professional learning community) to discuss better equipment, as well as programs for students and explores with the principal as to what can be done to enhance their learning.
Blake also mentions that if a Union were to lose its status as one, student average (the average amount of student’s teachers can have), planning periods and lunch breaks (and their importance) could be ignored. Student learning conditions could not be decided on, and teachers would have no say in how we, the students, should be taught.
“Unions are in place to help employees’ and workers’ rights. To make sure things are done in an adequate way” Blake explains that Unions like the BTU ultimately fight for the rights of workers and their overall work conditions to the government, making them ultimately important for everyone and not just the employed, to support.
Currently, BTU’s President is Anna Fusco. In addition to being extremely active on social media and on local news outlets, Fusco also details the importance of her position on BTU’s website, writing, “BTU is a grassroots organization run by its members. Its elected officers are union members. Our collective voice is only as strong as our members make it. So when there is a town hall meeting, a rally, a school board meeting public comment session, a picnic or an open house, COME—and bring your colleagues. Remember that every colleague is a potential member that can make us stronger.”
Overall, Unions are meant to protect the rights of workers in not just Broward, but the entire country. Thousands of workers have already lost union representation due to the 60% law and to lose unions would lead to rights (ones that are currently guaranteed) being abused.
As for the BTU, Mrs. Blake says that the Union is here to stay, and that its importance will never end. “They are literally on the battlefield for us.”
