Fla. Teachers Union Sues Governor, Claim Paying 3% of Their Own Pension Is 'Unconstitutional'

The Florida Education Association on Monday filed a class action lawsuit against Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) and several administrators with oversight over a state retirement fund, alleging that they violated teachers' existing contracts with an "unconstitutional" 3% pay cut imposed by the recently-passed budget.

"This pay cut was used by legislative leadership to make up a budget shortfall on the backs of teachers, law-enforcement officers, firefighters and other state workers," said FEA President Andy Ford in a statement posted to the FEA's website. "It is essentially an income tax levied only on workers belonging to the Florida Retirement System.