Alachua teachers’ union announces unfair-labor-practice hearing, pushes vaccination and bargaining priorities
Summary
The Alachua County Education Association told the board about an unfair-labor-practice hearing set for Jan. 21 and outlined bargaining priorities including enforcing contractual meeting limits and advocating for vaccination policies.
Carmen Ward, president of the Alachua County Education Association, briefed the board during announcements about an unfair-labor-practice claim the union has filed and an upcoming hearing at the Public Employee Relations Commission scheduled for Jan. 21.
Ward said the union is preparing for spring bargaining, is enforcing a 180-minute-per-month limit on meetings for education support professionals, and urged board and staff to prioritize funding and policies that raise teacher pay. The union also said it will push lawmakers in Tallahassee on funding and reiterated support for student vaccination policies, noting advocacy work planned in January.
Ward closed by noting a rally before the board meeting calling for the district to strengthen protections against ICE entry without warrants or identification and said the union had formally requested three changes to district guidance related to ICE access, including judicial warrants, identification requirements, and legal review by district counsel.
