The union contract governing teacher pay, benefits and classroom conditions across Miami-Dade County Public Schools will remain in force after United Teachers of Dade survived a state-mandated recertification election on Tuesday. The outcome preserves the labor agreement covering educators at every district school, including MAST Academy on Virginia Key, Key Biscayne K-8 Center and George Washington Carver Middle School.
UTD fell just 124 votes short of a new 50% voter participation threshold imposed by Florida Senate Bill 1296, but the Public Employees Relations Commission ruled the new standard did not apply. The election process began before the law took effect on July 1, PERC determined, and the commission issued a signed form declaring the union had prevailed.
Union cleared threshold by narrow vote-count margin
The margin was razor-thin. Of 22,964 eligible employees, 11,358 cast ballots, putting participation at 49.5%. The union needed 11,482 responses to clear the new bar. Among those who did vote, support was overwhelming: 10,986 in favor, 370 against, with two ballots challenged. That's nearly 97% backing.
Had PERC applied the new threshold, UTD would have been decertified, dissolving the contract that sets salary schedules, health benefits and workplace rules for teachers districtwide.
Ballots were mailed to all eligible employees on May 27. Completed ballots were returned to Tallahassee and counted on a livestream by PERC staff on July 7. The PERC official conducting the count congratulated the union after the tally. The commission had not responded to media requests for further comment as of Tuesday evening.
Years of legislative pressure led to this vote
Florida lawmakers have steadily tightened rules on public-sector unions. In 2018, the Legislature required recertification elections for unions whose dues-paying membership fell below 50% of the bargaining unit. Legislators later raised that bar to 60% and banned unions from deducting dues directly from teachers' paychecks. SB 1296, the latest measure, added the 50% voter participation requirement but exempts public-safety employees such as law enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics.
Current contract expires June 30, next steps unclear
The current UTD contract with Miami-Dade County Public Schools covers the period from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026. Whether the agreement has been extended or a successor contract is under negotiation for the 2026-27 school year has not been publicly confirmed. That June 30 expiration date is the next inflection point for families at local schools.
Broward Teachers Union president Anna Fusco told the Miami Herald on Tuesday that her organization had not yet heard from PERC on when its own recertification election would be held.
