The FRS, which guarantees retirement for Florida's 623,000 public workers, was exclusively state-funded and required no outside contributions from employees. In light of the new Florida Supreme Court ruling in this case, Scott v. Williams, the FRS is now a contributory pension program. In the future, the state legislature can continue to cut workers' wages by legislating they pay more into the pension system.

“It's like changing the rules in the middle of the game,” said Jose Soto, Co-President of the Graduate Assistants United at the University of Florida. “The Florida Supreme Court seems to think that management can abrogate its contract and abandon its commitments to workers. This isn't the deal that public employees signed up for.”

Trade unions across Florida universally opposed this bill when it came forward in the 2011 legislative session. A wave of protests, organized by Fight Back Florida, Awake the State, and other activist organizations, confronted Governor Scott and the right-wing legislature for its attacks on workers.

The legislature passed the pension bill despite overwhelming public opposition. In response, several public employee trade unions filed a lawsuit against the Governor. In March 2012, Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford ruled that the bill was unconstitutional, which prompted the Governor to appeal the decision to the Florida Supreme Court.

Immediately after the Florida Supreme Court announced its decision, Florida Education Association President Andy Ford said, “Balancing the state budget on the backs of middle-class working families is the wrong approach for legislative leaders and the Governor to take. We’re disappointed that the State’s highest court said this approach was legal.”

During the 2012 election, the Florida AFL-CIO unions formally endorsed and supported the three Florida Supreme Court justices up for retention. One of these labor-endorsed justices, Barbara Pariente, turned into the tie-breaking fourth vote in favor of Governor Scott's pension bill.

“It's a slap in the face to every worker in Florida,” said Soto. “Labor worked to retain Pariente, and after everything, she sides with Rick Scott against workers.”

For many, this momentary defeat is a call to renewed activism and resistance to right-wing austerity measures. Soto said, “Even as many look to the 2014 gubernatorial elections in Florida as an opportunity to oust Rick Scott, the Florida Supreme Court's ruling shows us the limitations of the electoral system and the legal system in fighting for workers rights. We can only stop the attacks on working people by getting organized and fighting back in the streets and on the picket lines.”

#TallahasseeFL #CollectiveBargaining #FightBackFlorida #GovernorRickScott #wageCuts

Tampa, FL – Across Florida, groups with the Coalition to March on the RNC protested as part of a statewide day of action on July 27. The day marked a one-month countdown to the Republican National Convention (RNC) and the massive unified march and protest happening on Monday, August 27, in Tampa.

Groups across the state and around the country will be coming down to Tampa as part of a broad coalition saying no to the Republican agenda. The Coalition is promoting a people’s agenda demanding, “Good jobs, healthcare, affordable education, equality and peace.” The group is protesting on the opening day of the RNC and demanding that government money be used for human needs, not for corporate greed and wars overseas.

In Tampa, leaders from Students Working for Equal Rights, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, Fight Back Florida, members of Teamsters Local 79 and Occupy Tampa gathered at Perry Harvey Sr. Park. This is where the march on the RNC will begin with a rally at 10:00 a.m. on August 27. Organizers waved a huge banner that said, “Be here August 27th to demand: Good jobs, Healthcare, Affordable Education, Equality and Peace.” The Coalition to March on the RNC leaders spoke to the media about the recently granted permits, as well as details of the march and rally. They plan to continue to gather support from the community as the massive protest draws near.

At nearly the same time, Coalition to March on the RNC partners in Tallahassee, the state capitol, protested outside the Florida State Republican headquarters. Despite a sudden heavy thunderstorm, protesters rallied outside of the office. John Saullo of SDS condemned the Republicans, saying, “They attack women’s rights and provide tax cuts to the wealthiest in society, all while eroding the rights of working families and creating destructive environmental policies.”

Later in the day, the Coalition to March on the RNC in Gainesville protested outside of the Bank of America chanting, “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!” 30 protesters gathered from Gainesville area Students for a Democratic Society, Occupy Gainesville and Veterans for Peace. They rallied outside of the bank where Jeremiah Tattersall said, “Bank of America funds the parties of the 1%. We'll be following their money to Tampa for the RNC, but also to Charlotte for the DNC.” Protesters then marched to a busy intersection, waving signs and chanting.

Around the country groups and people are mobilizing for the Tampa protest against the Republicans and the wealthy 1% who own and control both political parties. The Coalition to March on the RNC plans to protest within sight and sound of the Republican convention. They also support the March on Wall Street South during the Democratic National Convention a few days later.

After the opening rally on Monday morning of August 27, the Coalition will march through the streets of downtown Tampa to “Protest RNC Square” for another rally outside of the Tampa Bay Times Forum to oppose the Republicans and their 1% backers. A united message of struggle and progress, carried by thousands who are part of a growing movement in the streets and work places, will be heard across the country and perhaps the world.

#TampaFL #CoalitionToMarchOnTheRNCStopTheWar #FightBackFlorida #TampaBayStudentsForADemocraticSocietySDS #RNC2012 #CoalitionToMarchOnWallStreetSouth #RepublicanNationalConvention2012

Gainesville, FL – The ongoing Occupy Wall Street protests finally reached here on Oct. 5. Working people and students from across Gainesville converged on the downtown farmers market to hold the first Occupy Gainesville assembly.

With a crowd of more than 120, participants stood up and gave speeches about the demands that Occupy Gainesville ought to raise. Overwhelmingly, the assembly agreed to place an emphasis on local issues, particularly the demand for good-paying jobs.

During a speech, Jeremiah Tattersall, a statewide organizer with Fight Back Florida, reminded the assembly of “the importance in making labor and jobs the central focus of this movement.” His suggestion to demand that the City Commission adopt a local hiring preference, which would create jobs for Gainesville workers through city projects, was met with widespread applause.

After a half hour meeting, the entire assembly marched to City Hall and continued to make speeches denouncing corporate greed at the city, state and national level. Dave Schneider, an activist in Students for a Democratic Society, said, “The 1% of corporate America may center itself at Wall Street, but it’s also here in Gainesville, represented by the City Commission and the big commercial developers who put them in power. Enough is enough!”

As the first meeting came to end, participants signed up for committees focusing on direct action plans and internet outreach.

The Occupy Gainesville participants agreed to make the downtown Bo Diddley Plaza the central hub for the movement and announced that occupations would begin on Oct. 12.

#GainesvilleFL #StudentsForADemocraticSocietySDS #FightBackFlorida #OccupyGainesville #OccupyWallSt #OccupyWallStreet

Workers and students began the protest in front of The Landing by waving signs and chanting “When working families are under attack, what do we do? Stand up! Fight back!” Two right-wing Tea Party members heckled the protestors, but the vast majority of cars that passed by waived, honked and cheered the protestor’s pro-labor, pro-education message.

When Rick Scott was scheduled to speak, the protesters marched on The Landing holding signs that read, “Fight Back Florida!” and “Stop the war on working families!” The Landing’s corporate developers tried unsuccessfully to shut down the protest, but a union worker from the National Association of Letter Carriers pointed out that the protest was on public property.

The Tea Party’s event began with a racist portrayal of President Barack Obama in a skit. Protesters booed the bigoted event and chanted, “Rick Scott, stop the hate! Not our city! Not our state!” Tea Party thugs tried to block protesters from waving signs. One Tea Party thug shoved Dustin Ponder, a Fight Back Florida organizer, to try and provoke a fight. Police restrained, but did not arrest the Tea Party member.

When Rick Scott arrived, protesters confronted him with thunderous chants of “Tax the rich!” and “Hey-hey! Ho-ho! Rick Scott has got to go!” The protesters were chanting so loud that Rick Scott left after just five minutes. As he quickly retreated, workers and students yelled, “You’re a crook!”

After the rally, Dave Schneider, a Fight Back Florida organizer, briefly spoke to the protesters. “These Tea Party thugs can try to silence our voices, but they can’t stop working people and students when we stand up and fight back!”

#JacksonvilleFL #TeaParty #FightBackFlorida #GovernorRickScott

Gainesville, FL – About 300 workers and students demonstrated here, March 25, against the state government's attacks and cuts. The protest was organized by Fight Back Florida, a coalition of union members and students who organized rallies all over the state. In addition to Gainesville's rally and march, 14 other cities joined in a day of action against Governor Rick Scott's attempt to make public employees pay for the budget crisis. People around Florida joined together to tell the government that if it cuts back, “we will fight back.”

Governor Rick Scott, a multimillionaire, claims that public employees like teachers, bus drivers and communication workers are to blame for the crisis. Meanwhile, Scott has given record tax cuts to corporations and the rich – those responsible for the crisis.

Students and workers started out rallying at the University of Florida campus. Students will be largely affected by the massive cuts to scholarships and grants. These grants and scholarships are the only things that allow poor and working-class students to go to school.

The 300 people who met at the campus rally listened to a wide range of speakers, including representatives from the local ACEA (teacher's union), SDS (Students for a Democratic Society), the electricians (IBEW) and a number of other local unions being attacked by Governor Scott's budget cuts. The representative of the teachers union said, “it isn't just about pensions or the FCAT [the standardized test required for K-12 students], it's about freedom!” The crowd then chanted “Freedom!” From there, hundreds of people marched down to City Hall, taking up (and holding up) a lane of traffic. Armed with megaphones, the people chanted, “Tax the rich!” and “Hey hey! Ho ho! Rick Scott has got to go!”

Once at City Hall, the city government was put on the spot. Rally leaders read a document titled “Fight Back Florida Declaration from City Hall.” The people demanded that the city protect its workers, students and families. From there, a banner was mounted over the doors declaring the city of Gainesville a Labor Sanctuary – a safe haven from Governor Scott's massive cuts. The declaration was also taped to the door. Only people united can protect themselves from the right-wing attacks of the state government.

At rallies across the state of Florida, thousands of people fought for the same thing: To protect their jobs and families from attacks by corporations, the rich and the bought and paid for politicians. The protesters will continue to fight so the people’s needs are met – for education, emergency services, public transportation and social services. The Republican governor and the rich want more profits for the few. Fight Back Florida plans to meet and continue to fight to make the rich pay for the crisis they created.

#GainesvilleFL #StudentMovement #GainesvilleAreaStudentsForADemocraticSocietySDS #FightBackFlorida #GovernorRickScott