Dear UFF Members,
All Floridians hold dear America’s first liberty, the freedom to speak our opinions without being
punished by the power of the government. At UFF, we embrace this liberty as part of our mission to
make Florida’s higher education system a more inclusive, accessible, and fair place for all students, no
matter their background. Our members demonstrate every day that public higher education is a public
good by opening doors of opportunity, welcoming those of diverse backgrounds, and creating space for
differing viewpoints. Through these actions, we bring to life a vision of the Sunshine State that dwells in
hope, love, and acceptance. Florida works because we do.
In stark contrast, over the past few months, Gov. DeSantis has made clear that those who oppose his
beliefs and policies are not welcome in our state. Through fear of retaliation, our governor continues to
pursue opposition-free power by using governing boards, local elected officials, and legislators to punish
any public or private entity who exercises their First Amendment right to oppose his policies.
Our union, the United Faculty of Florida, and our parent union, the Florida Education Association, are
not immune to these attacks. SB 256 imposes greater burdens upon public sector unions that have
opposed the policies and actions of Gov. DeSantis and his supporters, while allowing those unions who
have supported him to operate unaffected. Requiring 60% membership density, removing the right to
payroll deduction, and compelling speech on union membership forms are unconstitutional violations of
our rights to organize and advocate for our members, to negotiate our working conditions, and to exist
as private organizations in a free society.
For these reasons, and more, the United Faculty of Florida—along with our allies in the Florida
Education Association—has filed suit in federal court to overturn this unjust law and to protect the
constitutional rights of all Floridians who would resist an authoritarian state. We will also seek an
immediate injunction to stop the law’s enforcement and to protect our rights to organize as a force for
the public good across our state.
Every day, Floridians have the opportunity to choose between freedom or fear; at UFF, we choose
freedom. We choose hope. We choose a society where constitutional rights are not dependent upon the
whims of an authoritarian state. By fighting this law in the courtroom and beyond, our union will create
the Florida that the students, faculty, and staff of our higher education system need—one that is based
on help instead of harm, fact instead of propaganda, and pursuing policies that support our fellow
citizens instead of state-sponsored discrimination peddled by Gov. DeSantis and his allies.
In Solidarity,
Andrew Gothard
UFF President