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Yolanda Willis was among the nearly three dozen secretaries, analysts, lawyers and university professors who marched on the state's Old Capitol Wednesday morning in support of a 5% pay increase for state workers.
Willis, who took time off from her job at Florida A&M University as an administrative assistant, wasn't dismayed by the low turnout for a labor union’s rally in a city where more than 19,000 state workers live.
“Sometimes it only takes a few people to show up to make a change,” said Willis, as chants of “Union! Power!” echoed along Monroe Street while the marchers approached the Capitol Complex.
Negotiations for a new three-year contract between AFSCME Florida, the union representing nearly half of state workers, and state officials are at an impasse. A final negotiation session of the year is scheduled for Dec. 30.
Speakers at Wednesday's rally expressed frustration with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2020-21 budget recommendation that contains no raise or cost of living increase for workers. They said in the past 12 years workers received just two 3% pay hikes and a pay cut.
Around 30 state workers marched from the corner of College Avenue and Monroe Street to the Capitol where they gathered to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis for higher wages Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.
  • Around 30 state workers marched from the corner of College Avenue and Monroe Street to the Capitol where they gathered to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis for higher wages Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. 1 of 10
  • Around 30 state workers marched from the corner of College Avenue and Monroe Street to the Capitol where they gathered to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis for higher wages Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.
  • Around 30 state workers marched from the corner of College Avenue and Monroe Street to the Capitol where they gathered to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis for higher wages Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.
  • Around 30 state workers marched from the corner of College Avenue and Monroe Street to the Capitol where they gathered to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis for higher wages Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.
  • Around 30 state workers marched from the corner of College Avenue and Monroe Street to the Capitol where they gathered to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis for higher wages Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.
  • Around 30 state workers marched from the corner of College Avenue and Monroe Street to the Capitol where they gathered to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis for higher wages Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.
  • Around 30 state workers marched from the corner of College Avenue and Monroe Street to the Capitol where they gathered to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis for higher wages Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.
  • Around 30 state workers marched from the corner of College Avenue and Monroe Street to the Capitol where they gathered to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis for higher wages Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.
  • Around 30 state workers marched from the corner of College Avenue and Monroe Street to the Capitol where they gathered to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis for higher wages Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.
  • Around 30 state workers marched from the corner of College Avenue and Monroe Street to the Capitol where they gathered to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis for higher wages Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.
    Helen Aguirre Ferré, DeSantis' spokeswoman, has said he is instead focusing on increasing starting salaries for teachers specifically. 
    "Every budget has priorities and (the governor) announced his support for a substantial increase in minimum pay for classroom teachers in an effort to help recruit and retain the best talent for our children in Florida schools," she said. 
    Lawmakers still have to write a state budget, however; the annual legislative session starts Jan. 14. Senate President Bill Galvano said earlier this week he's willing "to take a look" at how to fund a raise. 
    Still, such promises don't sit well with Tallahassee City Commissioner Curtis Richardson, who was a state representative in 2000-08.
    “It is unconscionable in the State of Florida with a $90 billion budget that our state employees do not receive an annual pay increase when we’re giving tax cuts to big business and the wealthy,” he said. 
    “They are having to work two and three jobs just to make ends meet and send their kids to college. It is unconscionable, and we are not going to stand for it anymore,” added Richardson, backed by people holding signs calling for a living wage and support for labor unions.
    The average pay for state workers is less than $40,000. Adjusted for inflation, workers on average have lost about 25% of their purchasing power since 2011.
    AFSCME argues the state’s low salaries have led to a 4% decline in the workforce in some sectors over the past decade, increasing the load for the remaining workers.
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    “We do run a tight, lean operation in this state," said state Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, who has served in the Senate for a decade. "And we should, but ... we have cut a billion dollars in taxes, so it is right to give state employees and teachers a raise this year.”
    Florida has the smallest and least expensive workforce per capita in the nation, according to state reports.
    AFSCME counters what those figures mean is one in four state workers who heads a three-person household would qualify for Medicaid. Children of another 31,800 state employees are eligible for free school lunches.
    “I’m taking care of a son on a $30,000 salary and I’ve done my job for 16 long years with a master’s degree,” said Rasheeda Fryson, a program analyst for the Agency for Health Care Administration.
    “I went to school. And I work hard to provide for my son. But I’m not making ends meet,” Fryson said.
    Florida employs less than half the number of workers per 10,000 residents at less than half the cost compared to the national average.
    Since 2012, workers in the State Personnel System dropped from 101,392 to 97,218. The state budget has grown by 30% in that same time.