South Florida School Workers Secure Fair Contract After Year of Talks

South Florida School Workers Celebrate New Contract with Miami-Dade County

In a significant triumph for labor rights, 6,500 school workers in Miami-Dade County have successfully secured a new contract after a year of intense negotiations. Jackie Williams-Green, a proud member of Local 1184 of AFSCME Florida, is among those celebrating the hard-earned agreement.

Local 1184 members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the contract in December, marking a major win for all departments represented at the bargaining table. The contract, which is retroactive to July 1, 2024, promises several improvements:

• Health care premiums will remain stable, with no reduction in services.
• Eligible employees will see a 3% increase in their base salary, along with retroactive payments.
• Employees who do not receive other enhancements or stipends will benefit from a compression adjustment.
• Veteran full-time employees with at least 20 years of service will receive an additional 1% salary increase on top of the base raise.
• Those with over 30 years of service will enjoy an extra 1.5% increase.
• Security personnel will maintain a 7.5% safety proficiency supplement.
• Additional stipends will be provided to school bus drivers, bus aides, and mechanics.
• Various categories of food service workers will receive a 3% pay supplement, including managers, satellite assistants, and other key roles.

The successful negotiation highlights the resilience and unity of the workers, who stood firm against anti-union efforts in Florida. This contract ensures that their voices will continue to be heard, even as they face challenges posed by SB256, an anti-worker law backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Williams-Green, a route management specialist and bargaining committee member, emphasized the importance of the new agreement in maintaining union strength. “Now we need to build on this moment so we have a secure union moving forward,” she stated. “Without our union, there won’t even be contract negotiations in the future — we will just get whatever our bosses decide we deserve.”