Tallahassee, FL – A group of Florida faculty unions, representing thousands of professors and instructors, have filed a lawsuit against state higher education leaders, challenging a new law that bans mandatory employment arbitration agreements for public university employees.

The lawsuit, filed in Leon County Circuit Court, argues that the law, passed by the Florida legislature and signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in May, violates the constitutional rights of faculty members and unfairly disadvantages them in resolving workplace disputes.

The law, known as HB 1507, prohibits public universities from requiring employees to sign contracts that force them to resolve disputes through private arbitration instead of traditional court proceedings. Proponents of the law argued it was necessary to protect employees from being forced into unfair and secretive arbitration processes.

However, the faculty unions, which include the United Faculty of Florida and the Florida Education Association, contend that the law undermines their bargaining power and leaves faculty vulnerable to potential employer misconduct.

“This law is a blatant attack on the rights of faculty members,” said [Name], President of the United Faculty of Florida. “By eliminating our ability to negotiate for fair dispute resolution procedures, the legislature is silencing our voices and creating a system where employers can operate with impunity.”

The lawsuit alleges that the law violates the First Amendment right to freedom of association by interfering with the collective bargaining process and the Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection by creating a discriminatory system that favors employers.

The unions also argue that the law will harm students by hindering the ability of faculty to advocate for their needs and improve working conditions.

“This is not just about faculty rights; it’s about creating a fair and equitable learning environment for students,” said [Name], a professor at [University Name] and plaintiff in the lawsuit. “When faculty are afraid to speak up or challenge unfair practices, it ultimately hurts our students.”

The lawsuit seeks a declaration that HB 1507 is unconstitutional and an injunction preventing its enforcement. The case is expected to be closely watched as it could have significant implications for the future of labor relations in Florida’s higher education system.