Duval Teachers United (DTU) missed the 60% membership threshold in all three bargaining units by the Tuesday deadline. The result puts the union's certification at risk for Duval County school employees, including staff at Mandarin-area schools.

Percentages fell short under new state law

DTU President Tammie Brooks-Evans told Jacksonville Today that by the processing deadline, teachers stood at 57%, paraprofessionals at 52% and office staff at 44%. Each unit needed 60% separately under a 2023 state law, Senate Bill 256.

As we reported Monday, the union entered the deadline still short of the mark. A membership drive that began July 1 recruited 609 new members, according to Jacksonville Today. That was not enough.

Deadline passed after late cash payments

First Coast News reported that employees could still apply and pay cash through Wednesday, and that union leaders would not know whether they reached the threshold until the state certifies results.

New law raises bar for recertification

If the state confirms DTU fell short, the union must petition for a recertification election. A 2026 law, Senate Bill 1296, raised the stakes: at least 50% of eligible employees must cast ballots for the election to count. Brooks-Evans told First Coast News that ballots would go to just over 9,000 employees, meaning more than 4,500 must vote.

Those ballots must be delivered through the U.S. Postal Service to each employee's address on file with the district. DTU plans to use a phone bank of retirees to call every employee and verify those addresses, according to Jacksonville Today.

Union says losing status threatens benefits

The union argues losing certification would void its collective bargaining agreement. In a Monday interview with Action News Jax, Brooks-Evans listed specific benefits at stake: "Like having bereavement leave goes away. Being paid for doing some of the extra jobs you do as part of working as a school safety patrol sponsor or band director."

Brooks-Evans also pointed to the union's bargaining record, saying the district initially set aside about $14 million for employee salaries and that the figure reached $27 million after 13 negotiating sessions.

Board splits on hiring outside attorney

The Duval County School Board voted 4-3 to hire attorney David R. Osborne to represent the district. Osborne has a history of opposing labor unions, according to Jacksonville Today. Board members Charlotte Joyce, April Carney, Melody Bolduc and Tony Ricardo supported the hire. Reggie Blount, Cindy Pearson and Darryl Willie voted against it.

Past embezzlement scandal cited in decline

DTU's membership has declined since its former president and vice president were convicted of embezzling $2.6 million from the union. State Rep. Dean Black, R-Jacksonville, who sponsored some of the state's union restrictions, said in a Monday Action News Jax interview that the convictions likely drove the membership decline.

The state's official certification is expected Thursday.