Fla. Governor Catches Anti-Union Fever

The Wisconsin syndrome? Just days after declaring that he favored collective bargaining for public employees, Florida’s Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, changed his tune and said he now wishes it were not allowed in the Sunshine State.

Meantime, in solidarity with the protests in Madison, demonstrations in all 50 state capitals were planned for Saturday. —JCL

St. Petersburg Times:

Scott’s original remarks came in a half-hour interview on WFLA-FM 100.7 in which he referred to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

“Walker is trying to eliminate collective bargaining,” Scott said. “My belief is, as long as people know what they’re doing, collective bargaining is fine.” He added, however, “As long as people know what they’re voting for.”

On Friday, Scott gave an interview with Bloomberg TV in Washington, D.C., and changed his tune. While Florida’s Constitution protects workers from being compelled to join a union, it also protects union workers by guaranteeing their right to collective bargaining. Scott acknowledged the constitutional protections but announced he’d now like to see that changed.

Read more

AP / Cliff Owen

Florida Gov. Rick Scott at the National Governors Association winter meeting in Washington on Saturday.