Hundreds of Union members joined Metropolitan Baltimore Council AFL-CIO President Ernie Grecco on March 31, for our annual Night in Annapolis. We gathered at Lawyers Mall and, from there, went to meet senators and delegates from the throughout the state to inform them of the Union agenda and get their support for Union prgrams and policies.
The following day, April 1, our affiliates, the Baltimore Federation of Public County Employees (BCFPE) and the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses (BCFPHN), walked the line with members of Teachers Association of Baltimore County (TABCO). Union members marched on the County Courthouse to protest the County's refusal to fund Cost of Living increases for employees. Despite fact that an independent Fact Finder determined that Baltimore County has more than enough funds to provide county employees with a raise, County Executive Jim Smith has stated that he will not fund increases for county employees for Fiscal Year 2009. We are negotiating with County administrators to resolve this issue
In Baltimore, the BTU has gotten the Baltimore City Public School System to agree to the establishment of a School Disciplinary Task Force. BTU Building Representatives, teachers, principals, and school administrators will make up theTask Force and develop strategies to deal with the problem of violence in our classrooms.
BTU will hold elections for key officers May 14, 2008. We're encouraging all eligible members to use their votes as their voices and participate in this election.
Your Union continues to work--for you!
Don't forget to check on our activities each week by dialing our AFT-MD Hotline: 410-764-3318 or 1-800-4181932.
In Solidarity,
Dr. Lorretta Johnson
