Members and staff of 1199SEIU Florida made their voices heard this Labor Day in events spanning the state to tell elected officials that the needs of working families should come first, rather than giant tax breaks and other favors to billionaires and big business.

Instead of resting on a day to commemorate the great societal accomplishments of workers and labor unions, thousands of Floridians took part in rallies, protests, caravans and other actions largely in response to extreme policies and legislation from the Trump Administration and Tallahassee that serve the ultra-wealthy while ignoring the essential needs of the public.

In addition to turning out, 1199SEIU members and staff took leading roles as speakers in several events organized by a coalition of community and labor organizations in every corner of Florida.

Karlie Cole, 1199SEIU delegate and a PCT in Tampa Bay, addressed a large crowd gathered in her area. She proclaimed “We’re calling out politicians in Tallahassee where billion-dollar corporations feel like they can call all the shots. We’re calling out the White House and Congress who shamefully but shamelessly serve only their rich friends and themselves. Caregivers and our union have always served on the front lines to protect our communities, and that’s why we’re out in force on Labor Day leading the fight for fairness and our families.”

In Orlando, 1199SEIU Florida Political Director Coy Jones joined a speaking program and caravan calling for better pay and protections for workers, while the White House and Congress are slashing Medicaid and other funding that provides essential care to children, seniors and the sick. “In that ‘big ugly bill,’ caregivers are going to lose jobs, patients are going to lose care, and people are going to die,” she said. 

In Miami, 1199SEIU joined union partners, community leaders and hundreds of supporters at separate events at Miami International Airport and in downtown’s Bayfront Park to demand proper wages and protections for workers, while protesting dangerous healthcare cuts and ICE raids and other immigration attacks.

Longtime 1199SEIU member leader and CNA Amy Runkle from Southwest Florida

was quoted on the front page of the Bradenton Times regarding the rally in that area. “It’s important that working people stand up together and make our voices heard this Labor Day and every day. It’s a shame so many politicians in Tallahassee and Washington work only to benefit their billionaire friends, but we can put our communities and families first if we speak up, stay united, and fight.”