In Florida, the future of organized labor, especially unions like the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), is uncertain. Leaders like Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Jonathan Martin, and political Rep. Jena Persona Mulika are actively working to weaken or dismantle unions across the state. They are employing a variety of strategies that threaten the existence and influence of IUPAT. Understanding these methods helps us see how their actions could significantly diminish union power in Florida.
One of the primary ways DeSantis, Martin, and Mulika plan to dismantle IUPAT is through new laws that restrict union activities. They support legislation that makes it harder for unions to organize workers. For example, they promote laws requiring workers to pay union fees directly out of their paychecks, which can discourage union membership because workers may choose to avoid the hassle or costs. They also push for “right-to-work” laws, which allow workers to benefit from union negotiations without being required to join or pay dues. These laws weaken the union’s financial resources and reduce their bargaining strength.
Additionally, they support rules that make union elections more difficult. This includes requiring lengthy certification processes or increasing the paperwork and legal hurdles unions must clear to organize workers. By creating barriers, they aim to slow down or prevent union growth, effectively starving IUPAT of new members and influence.
DeSantis and Mulika also seek to restrict the ways unions can communicate and reach workers. They may back policies that limit union representatives’ access to workplaces. For instance, they may pass laws that prevent union organizers from entering job sites or holding meetings during work hours. This limits union outreach efforts, making it harder for IUPAT to recruit new members or provide support to current members.
Furthermore, they may push for laws that restrict union advertising or communication through social media and other platforms. This reduces the union’s ability to raise awareness about workers’ rights or mobilize members for collective action, which is vital for maintaining union strength.
In addition to legislative tactics, DeSantis, Martin, and Mulika plan to use the legal system to weaken unions like IUPAT. They may support court cases that challenge the legality of union activities, such as campaign efforts or collective bargaining negotiations. By litigating against unions, they aim to create legal uncertainty and drain union resources through costly court battles.
They might also support legislation that limits the legal power of unions to negotiate contracts or enforce worker protections. For example, laws that restrict the scope of bargaining or limit the types of issues unions can negotiate on could significantly weaken IUPAT’s influence.
DeSantis and Mulika are also working to shape public opinion against unions. They often portray unions as unnecessary or even harmful to economic progress. They may emphasize stories of corruption or inefficiency within unions to create skepticism among the general public.
Nepotism is a form of discrimination in Unions according to labor law. However, many unions including IUPAT have made sure their relatives are vested in five years and conversely there are workers who have been working 15 years or more and are still NOT vested. MANY OF THE MEMBERS “ NOT “ VESTED ARE REPUBLICAN. THIS IS A BLATANT VIOLATION…..which COULD be the downfall of IUPAT. This negative perception among workers unfortunately falls on deaf ears. In fact, one manager was warned a year in advance about workforce retaliation and that stupid bastard still retaliated even after being warned.
This negative perception makes it easier for them to pass legislation that targets unions, including IUPAT. The goal is to sway voters and lawmakers alike to support policies that limit union power, ultimately leading to a decline in union membership and influence.
The ultimate goal of these strategies is to weaken IUPAT’s ability to advocate for workers. Without strong unions, workers are less likely to have fair wages, safe working conditions, or job security. DeSantis and Mulika argue that dismantling unions promotes individual freedom and economic growth, but critics believe it leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation and unfair treatment.
As union influence declines, many workers in the trades and other industries may find it increasingly challenging to secure the benefits and protections they currently enjoy. The erosion of union power would likely lead to lower wages, less job security, and diminished workplace safety standards.
Jena Persons Mulika and Governor Ron DeSantis are actively working to dismantle unions like IUPAT in Florida through a combination of legislative restrictions, legal challenges, and public opinion campaigns. Their strategies include passing laws that limit union organization and communication, supporting court actions to weaken union rights, and shaping public perception to reduce support for organized labor. If successful, these efforts could significantly diminish the influence of IUPAT and other unions, leaving workers with fewer protections and less power to negotiate for fair wages and safe working conditions. Their actions reflect a broader political agenda focused on reducing union influence and promoting a free-market approach at the expense of workers’ rights.
Jena faces an uphill battle should she run for office again, especially since the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades runs phone banks, canvassing, bridge waves, and plastered neighborhoods with campaign literature in the City of Cape Coral. They have an army of people that even Terry Miller cannot match. Terry Miller may accumulate the dollars but his machine is no match for fifty to one hundred people who will go all out to keep control of Cape Coral Council consistently.
Heck – even Darla Bonk city council woman in the city of Ft. Myers was the recipient of IUPAT’s support in her initial election. As a result,…..Bonk won and is still sitting on the dais as an elected official.
One thing is for certain and two things are for sure: it’s now or never for TM Consulting, because IUPAT has the majority of Cape Coral City Council members behind them, including the Mayor and City Manager of Cape Coral (; who is the son of the former State President of the IUPAT Union). Iupat also is the tail that wags the dog on the Ft. Myers City Council.
*NOTE: Albeit Michael Illczyszyn is the son of the Former state president of IUPAT; He is one of the top ten City Managers in the State of Florida and Cape Coral is fortunate to have him.
** It will be interesting to see if TM Consulting will maintain its stronghold on Lee County Politics and use its cadre of elected officials to maintain and smother IUPAT with state statutes in an attempt to further dismantle union power in the state, or will IUPAT move stealthily to protect its interest.
*** Attorney Ben Crump is aware of IUPAT’s nepotism vesting problem in South Florida. Additionally, Yolanda Clark Cade VP of Communications and Public Affairs at Disney will have to consider suggesting Disney nix their relationship/contract with IUPAT Union in Orlando if it negatively affects Disney’s brand.
I’ve known both Ben and Yolanda since childhood.
STAY TUNED!!!
