Miami-Dade teachers overwhelmingly voted to retain their current union following an unprecedented challenge to its existence.

There was a Labor Day tribute to workers and those in the trenches Monday at the United Teachers of Dade headquarters in Miami Springs.

Anna Fusco, the president of the Broward Teachers Union, blamed Florida’s new “anti-union” legislation for requiring an election as part of the certification process.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is in South Florida on Monday.

A pay increase of 7 to 10% was still on the table on Thursday for Miami-Dade County Public Schools teachers and already some were celebrating.

Rep. Charlie Crist called for the banning of assault rifles in Florida as a response to school shootings during a news conference about a new endorsement on Tuesday in Miami Springs.

Students are beginning their 2021 school year absolutely crushed after discovering that some of their favorite teachers, who were unvaccinated, have passed away from complications related to the COVID-19 virus.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – United Teachers of Dade and Uber have partnered to offer free rides to Miami-Dade County Public School teachers and support school staff who wish to get the COVID-19 vaccine. According to a news release, the partnership “is part of Uber’s 10 Million Free Rides campaign to ensure people can have access to easier and more convenient transportation methods to help them get vaccinated.”UTD has secured 1,000 two-way free rides for UTD members who are interested in getting the vaccine. Teachers and support staff in need of a ride to a vaccination site can call UTD Member Services at 305-854-0220. They will be given a promo code along with instructions about how to obtain their free ride. The promo codes will be valid through Sept. 30.

Miami-Dade County School Board member Steve Gallon III fainted on Tuesday after delivering a speech during a swearing-in ceremony. Hours later, he said he was ready to get back to work. “We need him now more than ever because a lot of important decisions are being made at our school board that impact our entire community." Gallon, who was born and raised in Miami’s Liberty City, is the elected District 1 school board member for the Miami-Dade County Schools and the vice-chair. By the time he made it to Jackson Memorial Hospital, Gallon was conscious again.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie says there’s reason for concern about rising coronavirus numbers and that parents should continue to have a choice whether to send their children to school in person or to have them continue online learning. “I’m very concerned that I see the trends moving in the wrong direction,” Runcie said Thursday at Gulfstream Early Learning Center, where he was reading to a group of students. But Runcie says some parents would be more comfortable with their kids finishing the rest of the school year online. Broward schools have recorded about 150 cases of COVID-19 at 93 sites over the past 30 days. A state report posted Wednesday showed that nearly 500 schools across South Florida have had confirmed coronavirus cases since early September.

Florida has had over 4,000 new COVID-19 cases each of the past two days, with the state’s death toll passing 16,500. Broward County Public Schools is reporting nearly 150 cases across 93 sites in the past 30 days. On Wednesday, the teachers’ union received a donation of half a million masks for teachers. The union president says the number of cases reported in schools does not account for the hundreds of students and teachers who are now in quarantine. “That is the best way that I can describe it.”ALSO SEE: Coronavirus cases confirmed at nearly 500 schools across South Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The number of primary and secondary schools in South Florida that have had COVID-19 cases confirmed by the state is approaching 500. The total number of schools with infections in those four counties is up 32% (from 361) week over week. The cumulative totals include cases dating back to Sept. 6, which is earlier than many South Florida students returned to the classroom. Local educators have said that parents are notified of cases at their children’s schools before cases are certified by the state. View and download the state’s latest report on COVID-19 in schools below:(If you cannot see the chart above, click here.)

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Joining This Week in South Florida are Karla Hernandez-Mats, who represents United Teachers of Dade, Anna Fusco heads the Broward Teachers Union, past president of the Miami-Dade Parent Teacher Association Joe Gebara, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Broward State Attorney candidate Gregg Rossman, FIU professor of politics Kathryn DePalo-Gould and Barry University political science professor Sean Forman. The full episode can be seen at the top of this page.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Just days into reopening classrooms, the first cases of COVID-19 appeared in Miami-Dade schools. In Broward County, some parents and teachers wondered of the schools would be a safe and healthy learning environment. On This Week in South Florida, voices from every perspective were heard; those who head the teachers unions in both counties:Karla Hernandez-Mats represents United Teachers of Dade, Anna Fusco heads the Broward Teachers Union, and Joe Gebara is a parent activist and past president of the Miami-Dade Parent Teacher Association. They all joined TWISF hosts Michael Putney and Glenna Milberg to discuss the ongoing situation. Their conversation can be seen at the top of this page.

MIAMI – Teachers need help to protect themselves and their students' families from the coronavirus when they return to Miami-Dade County public schools' classrooms on Monday. Karla Hernández-Mats, the president of the United Teachers of Dade, warned on Thursday that there are many schools that are not prepared to reopen safely. Hernández-Mats asked the public to help local public schools with donations of hand sanitizers and personal protective equipment. “That is the safest place for your child to be during a pandemic.”Hernández-Mats said public schools need support from the private sector. The remaining elementary school students and secondary transition-grades students return on Wednesday.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel Powell, Broward Teachers Union president Anna Fusco, United Teachers of Dade president Karla Hernandez-Matz, Carlos Lopez-Cantera and Burnadette Norris-Weeks join This Week in South Florida. The full episode can be seen at the top of this page.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – United Teachers of Dade and the Broward Teachers Union representatives accused state and school district authorities on Wednesday of negligence and recklessness for rushing to reopen schools without investing in the implementation of safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic. But according to Miami-Dade School District officials, no matter when schools reopen, a July 6 executive order guaranteed funding for the fall semester. Daisy Gonzalez-Diego, a spokeswoman for Miami-Dade Public Schools, said the district is following national and state health guidance to ensure that schools are sanitized and well maintained. Broward County Public Schools' office of communication released a statement saying the health and safety of students and staff is the district’s main priority. The union representatives remain skeptical and they are asking teachers and staff to use “#SafeSchoolsSFL” on social media to highlight safety issues.