Jetta Williams has been an RN at Western Maryland Hospital Center (WMHC) for two years, and has been a member of AFT Healthcare-Maryland for the last four months. Jetta said that “other members kept on asking me to join and a lot of people were doing it, too. I didn’t see any reason not to join.” She wishes that her co-workers who are not full members of AFT Healthcare-Maryland would be more open-minded. She believes her union gives her the ability to collaboratively work for the betterment of all employees. Jetta is responsible for making sure her patients receive the correct medication. She

A host of invested parties and stakeholders went west to participate in a national community schools conference. The conference highlighted the work community schools in Baltimore as well as others across the nation have been doing. AFT-Maryland and the Baltimore Teachers Union have been on the front lines of advancing the Community School Strategy across the State of Maryland. Of those in attendance were some of AFT-Maryland's partners on the Baltimore Education Roundtable, including Maryland Out-of-School Time (MOST), The Family League of Baltimore, and MD Communities United, among others.

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Baltimore County Public Employees had an opportunity to meet and greet the leadership of the two local unions affiliated with AFT-Maryland, which represent them. Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees (BCFPE) and the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses (BCFPHN) executive boards welcomed and engaged members at the Drumcastle Center in Towson, MD.

Members had an opportunity to express both appreciation and concerns to their unions. Some asked about tuition reimbursement opportunities in the contract as well as work conditions and requirements made of them by the county.

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Unions are only as strong as the solidarity they create. They often find their strength in numbers, as they connect different people with different interest to one goal. To that end, members & staff of AFT-Maryland took to the picket line to support their sisters and brothers in labor from the Communication Workers Association (CWA). Verizon has been dealing unfairly with the CWA and members have taken to the picket line to voice their frustrations.

AFT-Maryland stood with CWA Local 2101 in Pikesville, MD to show solidarity, support and highlight that what affects one affects us all. AFT

Citizens across Maryland took to the polls on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 to elect new leaders for everything from President of the United States to local judges. Members of AFT-Maryland, and supporters of candidates across Baltimore City and Baltimore County volunteered their efforts and time to back union endorsed candidates.

Union members, staff, and activists volunteered at strategic positions to support candidates in contested races that face low turnout. Shannon Sneed had a strong presence at polling locations to show support for her. She was endorsed by AFT-Maryland, and members went on