Tampa, FL – Over 30 young workers, trade unionists and community members rallied May 3 to demand an end to attacks on public school employees in Hillsborough County and the state of Florida. The rally was organized by West Central Florida Future Labor Leaders.

Hillsborough County School Board (HCSB) is currently accepting bids to contract out all custodial services at Hillsborough County Public Schools in an attempt to ‘cut costs.’ Custodians in Hillsborough County are already only paid $24,000 a year. The only savings HCSB will find by contracting out custodial services is through cutting custodian’s wages, lowering working conditions, and reducing the quality of services.

The Florida state legislature also attacked public education this legislative session. Public schools will now have to share public funds with charter and private religious schools. School districts are also able to arm teachers with guns after the unpopular “Guardian Bill” was passed.

Rally participants committed to keep up the fight to defend custodians, teachers and all workers.

#TampaFL #PeoplesStruggles #AFLCIO #PublicSectorUnions #TeachersUnions #HillsboroughStateEmployeeFederationHSEF #HillsboroughCountyTeachersAssociationHCTA #FloridaFutureLaborLeaders