May 19, 2013
The Senate Education Committee has approved a proposed ballot measure on teacher pay.
Public school teachers would be given a choice between opting for a state-set salary or joining the teacher's union. Union members would be paid based on contracts negotiated with county school boards.
Under the state constitution, public employees have a right to collective bargaining. Maureen Dinnen, president of the Florida Education Association, calls the measure unconstitutional and vindictive.
Even its sponsors aren't giving it much chance of passage of getting the required three-fifths vote in both the House and Senate. The committee split 5-4.
