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Supreme Court: Janus v. AFSCME 31

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It is disappointing that the Supreme Court has granted certiorari in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31. Labor unions have been the engine that have driven the economic motor of the middle class in the United States during the majority of the 20th century. It is no coincidence that as labor union participation has decreased in the nation over the last few decades, the wages of workers have remained stagnant while the richest Americans continue to get richer...

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CUB Retiree Anniversary

The City Union of Baltimore-Retiree chapter had their Second (2nd) Anniversary luncheon on Tuesday, September 19th at the CUB office. The event was well attended and beyond simply celebrating the retiree chapter, the union had information presented by a number of speakers to ensure that members are still living engaged and enriching lives, even into retirement. Lauren Luchi who heads up AFT’s retiree division called on those in attendance to call their Senators and tell them to vote NO on the Graham-Cassidy health care bill. At one point during the luncheon, she got everyone to take out their

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State Employee Bargaining Team Meeting

AFT-Maryland applauds our state employee members as they begin the process of bargaining for a new contract. In advance of official negotiating sessions, AFT Healthcare-Maryland (AFTHCMD) and the Maryland Professional Employees Council (MPEC) held meetings to provide context and background for those that are on the negotiating team. The meeting took place at the Baltimore Teachers Union (BTU) offices and featured a number of speakers and presenters.

MPEC staff including Royale Simms informed members of the state’s  past financial decisions involving COLA increases (or lack thereof) for state

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Statement on President Trump's DACA Decision

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"47885","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","style":"width: 569px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"}}]]Once more, we who are people of good will must resist the xenophobic policies of the President of the United States. His decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is President Trump doubling down on bad campaign rhetoric and turning it into harmful public policy. The nearly one million young people that this will affect nationwide are our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and union sisters and brothers.

The AFT-Maryland calls on our congressional representatives to   

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AFT-MD at the Sickle Cell Disease Walk

In keeping with annual tradition the AFT-Maryland joined other community groups and volunteers for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America’s annual “Walk With the Stars” event in August. The state federation manned a table that provided books, voter registration, child identification kits, and a host of other important items. Jerry Smith, president of Maryland Professional Employees Council, AFTMD Local 6197, was in attendance, as were members and staff of MPEC and AFT-Maryland.

After completing the walk at the beautiful Canton Waterfront Park near the Korean War Memorial, attendees were

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Back to School in Walbrook Junction

Maryland Delegate Bilal Ali held his annual back to school event in the Walbrook Junction community. The AFT-Maryland was present passing out school supplies including pens and pencils, and also provided early reading books for students and parents. The state federation also passed out child identification packets provided by the national AFT, and registered community members to vote.

The event had strong community support as a number of students were able to get school supplies for the upcoming school year. In addition to the students who were given supplies, young people who were awarded

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