Union Directs Teachers to Contact Senators 'For the Next Five Days'

The Florida Education Association (aka "teachers' union") on Friday directed its members to contact members of a Senate committee "today and for the next five days" to oppose two pension-reform measures.

Ahead of Tuesday's scheduled meeting of the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, the FEA e-mail states, "It is extremely URGENT that we begin a full court press to contact the Senate committee members, TODAY, AND FOR THE NEXT FIVE DAYS,especially those who live in your own area."

Listing each senator's phone numbers and e-dresses, the advisory suggests using the following comments:

"I am calling to request the senator oppose any changes to the Florida Retirement System as drafted in SB 1139 and also oppose SB 1128. These bills arenot only breaking long-established trust with public employees, but also will potentially increase the number of public employees relying on public assistance when they retire.It is also my understanding that these bills will actually increase the cost to the state, counties, and municipalities because in essence they close these defined benefit plans to future new employee contributions."

COMING SATURDAY: Sunshine State News will report how the teacher walkout in Wisconsin is reverberating in Florida.