Topic: Unions

Chanting, sign-toting FSU grad students marched on the Capitol Monday to protest unfair working conditions. They say they are required to pay fees and insurance premiums other state universities waive for graduate students who are employees.

Union says many officers are excluded, through no fault of their own. Teamsters say the peer review system is nothing more than "a popularity contest" rather than a fair evaluation of work.

The group plans a mass rally in Tallahassee the day before the start of the legislative session. The protest is dubbed "Moral Mondays." It's a tactic borrowed from activists in the Carolinas and Georgia to promote a social agenda including the expansion of Medicaid.

About 75,000 jobless workers will stop receiving benefits Dec. 28 unless Congress extends the federal emergency unemployment compensation program. The news is the latest wrinkle for unemployed workers trying to receive benefits as many struggle with Florida's new computer system for the program. ... Related Research: U.S. Department of Labor: Unemployment Insurance Data Summary - 2013 Q2, and Monthly Program and Financial Data.

Many problems with the switch to the new unemployment system two months ago have been fixed, but many claimants still see a lag in benefits. ... Related Research: Unemployment Insurance Data Summary and Monthly Program & Financial Data from the U.S. Department of Labor, and CONNECT System Daily Update for Monday, December 2, 2013.

Florida's minimum wage will rise by 14 cents starting Jan. 1, but the minimum unemployment tax rate will fall sharply. ... Related Research: DEO 2014 Florida Minimum Wage Calculations, DOR 2014 Reemployment Tax Rates Fact Sheet, and DEO Florida's Minimum Wage announcement.

The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen and the Florida AFL-CIO are suing to reverse the award of a bid for the construction of SunRail, the central Florida commuter rail. They say the state broke its agreement with them to award the project to a contractor that has federally certified signalmen.

State agrees to pay for the time it takes for prison guards to pass through security checks going to and from their posts. It can take up to a half hour each way, they say. The Labor Department agreed.

Committee creates a taskforce to recommend a state-wide sick-leave policy to prevent a patchwork of regulations for business to navigate.

About 400 state jobs will be affected in nine South Florida institutions as the state agrees to a $48 million contract with Wexford Health Sources to provide health-care services for inmates. ... Related Research: Nov. 14, 2012 press release "Wexford Health and DOC discussing inmate health care services in South Florida."

The findings of the Annual Workforce Report released Friday showed that 6,139 state positions have been cut during the last fiscal year as of June 30. "I believe Gov. Scott is doing just what he said he'd do," lamented a state employee union chief.

Ports in Jacksonville, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Miami will shut down on Dec. 30 if a deal isn't struck between dockworkers and shipping companies. ... Related Research: National Retail Federation letter to President Obama, and a multi-association letter to President Obama.

DEO executive director Hunting Deutsch received more than $25,000 in unemployment benefits for 91 weeks prior to taking the helm at the country's stingiest unemployment benefits system.

After Bank United executive Hunting Deutsch was let go when the bank failed in 2009, he received unemployment benefits while traveling overseas. In April, he took the helm of the state agency responsible for what critics say is the most difficult in the nation for the jobless to obtain benefits. ... Related Research: Hunting Deutsch's résumé.