Elected leaders are often the ones who referee public employees and their issues with management, so with the Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session underway for 2020, AFT-Maryland puts labor leaders and activists in front of decision makers who have a say in issues affecting state employees, municipal employees, and education employees. To further that goal, the state federation hosted our annual 2020 Legislative Reception. The event was well attended by members and legislators.

Over light fare, AFT-Maryland members and leaders discussed the vital issues facing legislators that affect

The 2019 novel coronavirus and its outbreak has people all over the world on high alert. Fortunately AFT-Maryland is the union for some of the best health care practitioners in the state. We reached out to Crystal Wright, a public health nurse and member of the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses, Local 5102 to find out what Marylanders in the Baltimore- metro area specifically need to know about the virus and to stay safe.

Q: Are there any cases of reported 2019 novel coronavirus in Maryland? 
According to the CDC, two suspected cases of coronavirus in Maryland were negative. 

Members from the affiliated locals of AFT-Maryland made their way to Annapolis to lobby elected officials on public employee issues that are coming up in the 2020 Maryland legislative session. Lobby night is an annual event that allows the state federation to put members before legislators to make their voices heard. For state employees this is an opportunity to talk with those who make legislation that directly impacts their work life.

The night is a combination of planned meetings and drop-ins. Members are divided into groups and some groups speak to state Senators while others talk with

UPDATE: February 20, 2020: The Baltimore City Council has passed the resolution and now the property tax credit only awaits Mayor Jack Young’s signature. The resolution had unanimous support in committee, and in the council. CUB offers a huge thank you to Councilman Ryan Dorsey who worked this legislation through the council, Delegate Stephanie Smith who carried the enabling legislation in Annapolis and former Delegate Bilal Ali who first introduced the tax credit legislation and worked with CUB, even when he no longer was a state delegate, to see the bill come to fruition.  2020-02-20

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Education advocates are gearing up for an intense battle during the legislative session over the state fully funding the Kirwan Commission’s recommendations. That fight kicked off in earnest for the legislative session in Baltimore. The Baltimore Teachers Union and AFT-Maryland were on hand to fight for Maryland’s public school children. BTU member Nathan Ferrell spoke at the press conference. He commented “this can and will be a sea change for our state, for our city, and for all of the students in Maryland public schools." He was among a group of policy advocates, educators, and students who

Members from many of the locals of AFT-Maryland were in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the 2020 Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO 29th Annual Leadership Conference. The conference featured a number of important breakout sessions that members and leaders alike learned from. President Jermaine Jones addressed the body with his annual State of theUnion/Council Address. Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Gerald Jackson also delivered remarks.

The sessions included a Common Sense Economic session that explored the way daily economic challenges affect the lives of union members. There were