Jacksonville Business Journal: UF Health Jacksonville workers file labor charges as health system halts bargaining
AFSCME members working for UF Health Jacksonville filed Unfair Labor Practice charges against their employer. The charges stem from UF Health Jacksonville’s refusal to continue to bargain in good faith and, instead, moving forward with implementing contract changes that have not been reviewed and voted on by the employees.
To learn more about what is at stake, please see this story from the Jacksonville Business Journal.
By Carter Mudgett – Reporter, Jacksonville Business Journal, Sep 22, 2026
- Two AFSCME locals filed unfair labor practice charges against UF Health Jacksonville.
- The health system allegedly declared impasse after three bargaining sessions and moved unilaterally.
- AFSCME warns proposed changes to insurance, paid time off, and wages will harm recruitment.
Two AFSCME locals representing workers at UF Health Jacksonville have filed unfair labor practice charges against the health system, alleging it stopped bargaining and moved to unilaterally change employee insurance, paid time off and wages.
Members of AFSCME Local 1328 and AFSCME Local 1781 filed the charges after UF Health Jacksonville declared an impasse following three bargaining sessions, according to AFSCME Florida.
In a statement provided to the Business Journal, UF Health Jacksonville said it remains committed to its employees and working with the union.
“UF Health Jacksonville greatly appreciates the important contributions our team members make to providing exceptional compassionate care for our community,” the health system said. “We are committed to providing competitive compensation and benefits and will continue to work closely with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees on behalf of our valued employees.”
UF Health Jacksonville did not directly address the union’s allegations or provide details about the proposed contract changes.
The dispute centers on proposed changes to working conditions covered by an existing collective bargaining agreement. AFSCME alleges the health system is attempting to implement those changes without allowing represented employees to review and vote on them.
“What UF Health Jacksonville is proposing to change, unilaterally and in clear violation of the contract, are the working conditions,” an AFSCME Florida spokesperson told the Business Journal. “In this case, they involve changes to employee insurance, the ability to use and accrue paid time off and wages.”
The union did not specify when the proposed changes would take effect.
AFSCME said UF Health Jacksonville declared an impasse after three bargaining sessions that the union characterized as productive. The health system did not give the employee bargaining committee a reason for ending the talks, according to the union.
AFSCME contends there were no obstacles preventing negotiations from continuing.
The union said the proposed changes could affect employees across the health system and make it more difficult for UF Health Jacksonville to retain experienced workers and recruit new employees in a competitive health care labor market.
“The changes are going to encourage more experienced employees to consider retirement as their working conditions deteriorate,” the AFSCME spokesperson said. “And it will make filling positions harder, as health care is a very competitive industry and a degradation in benefits will make jobs less attractive.”
AFSCME also warned that difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified employees could ultimately affect patient care and facility safety.
The union is asking UF Health Jacksonville to return to the bargaining table and resume negotiations. AFSCME said its representatives are prepared to meet and described the discussions held before the declaration of impasse as constructive.
“Bargaining is not about one side agreeing to whatever the other side wants,” the spokesperson said. “Workers want a union on the job because they want a seat at the table in their future, especially when their employer thinks they can do whatever they want whenever they want.”