Central Florida labor leaders said a plan to punish banks that support "union-busting" legislation will cost financial institutions millions and likely spread to other unions around the state.

At a news conference Thursday, unions representing police, firefighters, teachers and white- and blue-collar workers announced they will pull their money from five banks whose executives are affiliated with the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

The banks — Bank of America, PNC, Regions Bank, SunTrust and Wachovia — are each represented on the Florida Chamber's board of directors. The chamber has pushed legislation now moving through the Florida Legislature that would prohibit state and local governments from collecting union dues through payroll deduction.

"Their businesses will not be effected by its outcome one bit, whether we collect dues or not," said Steve Clelland, president of the union representing Orlando firefighters. "This is meant to silence our political voices."

Leaders of the International Association of Fire Fighters; the Fraternal Order of Police; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Service Employees International Union and the AFL-CIO said they would close their business accounts and move their money to community banks and credit unions. They're advising their thousands of members to do the same.

mschlueb@tribune.com or 407-420-5417.