Workers at the Osceola School District have voted to continue their membership with Teamsters Local 385. This decision affects nearly 1,400 employees in custodial, food service, transportation, and maintenance roles who will maintain their union protections.
“Without these important workers, the Osceola School District could not function,” stated Walt Howard, President of Local 385. “These Teamsters understand their worth and our union will always make sure everyone else does too. Local 385 is honored to continue representing these invaluable members of our community.”
The vote was necessitated by Florida’s new law, SB 256, which aims to reduce union membership but has not succeeded in this instance. Teamsters Local 769 also successfully retained union support against SB 256 in other regions including Vero Beach and Coral Gables.
Peter Finn, Director of the Teamsters Public Services and Health Care Division, criticized the legislation: “Forcing workers to jump through hoops just so they can preserve their right to belong to a union is an insult to working families everywhere. Workers know union membership brings higher wages and better benefits. The Teamsters will vigorously fight any attempt to weaken North America’s strongest union.”
Carol Morales, a member of the Teamsters at Osceola School District, expressed her support: “I can’t imagine doing my job without a union. Personally, the Teamsters have helped me so much and without them, our work would be a nightmare. I will vote for the union again and again for years to come.”
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in 1903 and represents over 1.3 million workers across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
