McKenna Schueler
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shecarrieson.bsky.social
McKenna Schueler
@shecarrieson.bsky.social
Staff Reporter for Orlando Weekly | Words in Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, In These Times, Strikewave, Facing South. Also have a Substack: Caring Class Revolt. Retweet =/= endorsement. Say hi/send tips: [email protected]
Pinned
Just another afternoon thinking about how Florida doesn’t have a state labor department (because Jeb Bush abolished it) and how the state’s minimum wage is basically left up to an honor system because the state takes little action to enforce it. www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida...
Florida lawmakers ignore attempt to reestablish a state labor department to take on wage theft — again
The AG's Office, the only state enforcement mechanism for Florida's minimum wage, recovered unpaid wages for exactly one person last year.
www.orlandoweekly.com
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
Florida Highway Patrol arrests two for ‘aggressively’ chalking ‘Resist’ on Pulse crosswalk
Florida Highway Patrol arrests two for 'aggressively' chalking 'Resist' on Pulse crosswalk
A Florida Highway Patrol officer arrested two people Sunday afternoon for allegedly “defacing” the formerly rainbow-colored crosswalk outside of Orlando’s Pulse nightclub — the latest in a string of q...
www.orlandoweekly.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
Tampa photojournalist arrested outside ICE detention center in Miami
Tampa photojournalist arrested outside ICE detention center in Miami
Decker, who was on assignment for three news outlets, was covering a protest action by Sunshine Movement, which saw many of its members arrested.
www.orlandoweekly.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
I've known and worked alongside Dave since I began my reporting career as a freelancer. He's fearless, exceptionally kind, and covers what others don't. Please read and consider supporting his GoFundMe (linked in the article)
November 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
Orange County moves forward with effort to revive local film industry
Orange County moves forward with effort to revive local film industry
Florida, once dubbed “Hollywood East” used to have its own statewide film incentive program — drawing in production for films like “Edward Scissorhands” and “My Girl” — but the right-wing, Koch-founde...
www.orlandoweekly.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
Allegiant Air pilots at Orlando-Sanford airport join national picket in fight for fair union contract
Allegiant Air pilots at Orlando-Sanford airport join national picket in fight for fair union contract
Pilots for Allegiant Air, represented by the Teamsters, picketed outside 22 airports across the country Tuesday, including the Orlando-Sanford International Airport. The action is part of a coordinate...
www.orlandoweekly.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Sizable turnout for a picket line organized by Allegiant pilots represented by the Teamsters Local 2118 @ Orlando-Sanford Airport

They’re joining pilots at 21 other airports today for a picket (not a strike) to raise awareness of their fight for a fair union contract @orlandoweekly.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Washington's state AG says he's launching a new 'Workers Rights Unit' to combat wage theft (something FL does not have)

“This unit will fight to even the playing field for Washington workers and hold corporations accountable that exploit their workers” www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-re...
AG Nick Brown launches Worker Rights Unit to enforce protections, fight exploitation | Washington State
Read this news release in Spanish. Attorney General Nick Brown today announced the creation of a Worker Rights Unit to lead the effort to uphold Washington state’s nation-leading worker protections an...
www.atg.wa.gov
November 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
Pundits have said Zohran is a strictly-NYC phenomenon. But a DSA member named Kelsea Bond just got elected to the Atlanta City Council. I talked to her about how she won.
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/the-dsa-ca...
The DSA Candidate Who Won Down South
An interview with newly elected Atlanta City Council member Kelsea Bond
www.hamiltonnolan.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Lively cover for @cltampabay.bsky.social this week feat. a story I wrote on Central Florida pols’ reactions to the victory of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social in NYC, including democratic socialist St. Pete city council member @richiejfloyd.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Orlando Congressman @maxwellfrost.bsky.social slams Senate funding deal offering ‘empty promises’ www.orlandoweekly.com/news/orlando...
Orlando Rep. Maxwell Frost slams Senate funding deal offering ‘empty promises’
The funding agreement could reopen the government if approved by the House and signed into law by President Trump.
www.orlandoweekly.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
Florida politicians react to New Yorkers picking democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani to be their mayor www.cltampa.com/news/florida...
Florida politicians react to New Yorkers picking democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani to be their mayor
While Tampa Bay has just one democratic socialist currently in local elected office, several other electeds and mayoral candidates told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay they nonetheless found validation in ...
www.cltampa.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Florida politicians react to New Yorkers picking democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani to be their mayor www.cltampa.com/news/florida...
Florida politicians react to New Yorkers picking democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani to be their mayor
While Tampa Bay has just one democratic socialist currently in local elected office, several other electeds and mayoral candidates told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay they nonetheless found validation in ...
www.cltampa.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:16 PM
While the NLRB isn’t conducting union elections in the private sector right now, with the government shut down, Florida did see new organizing in the public sector this past month: caringclassrevolt.substack.com/p/last-month...
Last month in Florida: New union organizing and union election results (Oct. 2025)
Catch up on new organizing, feat. blue-collar staff in Volusia County schools, cop unions, and a couple dozen recertifications necessitated under Florida's ‘union busting’ law.
caringclassrevolt.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
My favorite Halloween tradition is writing a spooky history essay for @proteanmag.com, and 2025’s is a good one. This time, we’re heading back to the graveyard.

Bring a shovel.

proteanmag.com/2025/10/31/r...
Return of the Body Snatchers • Protean Magazine
This Halloween, Kim Kelly digs into the history of medical graverobbing and desecration-for-profit—a long-buried symptom of the heedlessness and abject cruelty of centuries past. Right? Surely nothing...
proteanmag.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Leveraging a small portion of pandemic relief funds distributed under the Biden administration, Orange County announced this week that they’ve managed to wipe out more than a half billion dollars ($515M) in medical debt for 302,000+ residents www.orlandoweekly.com/news/orange-...
Orange County wipes out more than a half billion dollars in medical debt
The debt relief initiative, made possible through funds from the Biden administration, has relieved medical debt for 302,000 people.
www.orlandoweekly.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
‘Just practicing for a just contract’: Starbucks workers in Central Florida prepare for potential strike
‘Just practicing for a just contract’: Starbucks workers in Central Florida prepare for potential strike
While some progress has been made in contract talks, the union is threatening a potential strike if they don't reach a deal workers approve.
www.orlandoweekly.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Starbucks workers in Oviedo, FL—a suburb about a half hour from Orlando—are ‘just practicing for a just contract’ as part of a national pressure campaign for a strong union contract with @sbworkersunited.org

story incoming for @orlandoweekly.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Florida Democrats and U.S. House Rep. Maxwell Frost
are calling on the state to take action to fund SNAP benefits for the 2.8 million working-class Floridians who rely on them, should the federal gov shutdown stretch into Nov. and delay access www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida...
Florida Dems urge state to take action as millions face delayed SNAP benefits due to gov't shutdown
Millions of low-income Floridians who receive food stamp benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including veterans and the elderly, could see their benefits for...
www.orlandoweekly.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Dollar store workers fight to improve jobs even without a union via @capitalandmain.bsky.social capitalandmain.com/dollar-store...
Dollar Store Workers Fight to Improve Jobs, Even Without a Union
With unionization dropping under Trump, experts say “premajority” campaigns can help workers score wins.
capitalandmain.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
Florida Republican revives effort to allow minimum wage exemption for certain workers
Florida Republican revives effort to allow minimum wage exemption for certain workers
An effort to cheapen labor costs has resurfaced in the Florida Legislature after failing to gain the traction it needed in order to pass earlier this year.
www.orlandoweekly.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
Here we go again: Florida lawmaker wants to allow employers to legally pay certain types of workers less than the state minimum wage. This bill was defeated in the last legislative session due to public outcry.
October 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Florida Republican revives effort to allow minimum wage exemption for certain workers www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida...
Florida Republican revives effort to allow minimum wage exemption for certain workers
An effort to cheapen labor costs has resurfaced in the Florida Legislature after failing to gain the traction it needed in order to pass earlier this year.
www.orlandoweekly.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
New roundup of reported activity by Florida's union avoidance consultants and the employers that hire them, often at rates of $275+/hour, to convince workers against forming a union caringclassrevolt.substack.com/p/busted-wha...
Busted: What Florida's union busters have been up to | Oct. 2025 (Part 1)
A round-up of reported activity by Florida's union-avoidance consultants and employers in Florida that hire them.
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
Disney blocks historic labor strike at Epcot in Orlando
Disney blocks historic labor strike at Epcot in Orlando
The Walt Disney Company has blocked what could have been a historic labor strike by food service workers at Disney World’s Epcot.
www.orlandoweekly.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by McKenna Schueler
Power Half-Hour is a livestreamed roundtable w/ a rotating group of guests! This @poweratwork.bsky.social ep features @orlandoweekly.bsky.social's @shecarrieson.bsky.social, University of New Orleans' @dralibustamante.bsky.social, & @latimes.com's @suhauna.bsky.social: poweratwork.us/power-half-h...
October 15, 2025 at 3:05 PM