Given members’ growing anxiety over the planned changes to state retiree prescription drug coverage, AFT-Maryland brought in Sherry Kolbe of the Baltimore County Department of Aging for a workshop on enrolling in Medicare Part D. The workshop covered everything from explaining what Medicare Part D is, to giving retirees an opportunity to see what the set up would look like. The event was held at the Baltimore Teachers Union (BTU) and a wide range of retirees were in attendance. There were the aforementioned state retirees as well as retirees from Baltimore city, because the city plans to

The Organizing Coalition for Public Education in Maryland met at the Baltimore Teachers Union on Thursday September 13th. The meeting saw a number of invested partners from across the state come together in an effort to promote public education across the state. One of the more immediate goals of the group is to ensure Marylanders vote Yes on Question One (VoteYesOnOne.org) in the 2018 General Election. This is the ballot initiative which would secure casino gaming revenues exclusively for education.

The coalition is made up of a number of divergent interest groups. Represented among the group

In a post-Janus world it has become more important than ever to make sure public employees know their rights when it comes to unions. The Maryland Professional Employees Council hosted a “Lunch & Learn” for members, new hires, and non-members alike. This lunch and learn featured President Jerry Smith discussing the benefits of membership including having a voice at the table as the union negotiates on workers’ behalf. President Smith let those in attendance know that economic bargaining would soon open up between the union and the state and it would be important for workers’ to be members so

Summer is a busy time for the locals of AFT-Maryland. Beyond their duties as members and officers of public sector labor unions, many volunteer in the community for a number of worthwhile causes. The 2018 Maryland Walk With the Stars & Move-a-thon for sickle cell awareness and research was one of those causes AFT-Maryland showed up for. The state federation manned a table that had child identity packets, school supplies, giveaways, and most importantly voter registration forms. Some of attendees saw the voter registration table and brought over their teenagers to get registered. Others took

AFT-Maryland staff joined with the Baltimore Teachers Union (BTU) for their annual back to school event. This year, the event was done in conjunction with Church of the Holy Trinity and the West Baltimore Community. There were a number of activities for young and old alike. Children at every grade level received backpacks stuffed with school supplies and other items students would need for the upcoming school year.

In addition to the goods students received, there were free haircuts and nail painting done on site. There was a face painting activity as well as a games center. The DJ provided fun