News

AROS and The People's Education Platform

AFT-Maryland as well as the Baltimore Teachers Union, Local 340 are a part of the Baltimore Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools (AROS) and were involved in efforts to create the people’s education platform. The platform identified 14 different educational priorities parents, students, education professionals, and community members alike could vote for as their top issues. Some of the priorities people could choose were practical job and life skills, significant reduction in standardized testing, as well as more resource classes, field trips, and cultural experiences, just to name a few. Over the course of about two months, the Baltimore AROS set up... CLICK TO READ MORE

AFT-Maryland at NAF - Teacher Appreciation Week 2022

Teacher Appreciation Week 2022 was a great opportunity to welcome community partners back in schools to engage educators and thank them for the work they do. AFT-Maryland took that opportunity to visit with education professionals at the National Academy Foundation (NAF) in East Baltimore. The state federation was represented by President Kenya Campbell, Secretary-Treasurer LaBrina Hopkins, and Community Engagement Director Jeffery Johnson. The school hosted... CLICK TO READ MORE

AFT-Maryland Statement on the Passing of Dr. Lillian Lowery

News of Dr. Lillian Lowery’s passing has saddened our state federation deeply. We had the utmost respect for her as a tireless fighter for students across the state of Maryland. Dr. Lowery’s historic term as the first African-American to head the Maryland State Department of Education was monumental for young Black women who aspired for careers in educational administration. She served at every level of education including as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent before leading education departments in Delaware and Maryland. Click to Read MORE

Welcome, Spring!

The turn of the pages on the calendar to April brings excitement at the anticipation of spring. The season is one that holds a great deal of potential and promise. Many of us will resume some of our favorite outdoor activities; others will try new outdoor ideas for the first time. We know the adage that “April showers, bring May flowers,” and we are eager for the longer, warmer days, even if we have to put up with some rainy ones here and there. This year, the month of April also brings... Click to Read MORE

BTU Members Testify to get Bargaining for Class Size

Class sizes make a huge difference in an educator’s ability to reach and connect with their students. Unfortunately for Maryland educators however, class sizes are non-negotiable and cannot be collectively bargained. House Bill 890 (HB890) seeks to change that. While a number of education professionals and advocates from across the state offered testimony detailing how necessary this legislation is for classroom instructors, the most visually compelling testimony came from AFT-Maryland members in the Baltimore Teachers Union (Local 340).

BTU member Nathan Ferrell testifies via Zoom on the

March has been a busy month for AFT affiliates in Annapolis. With the 90-day legislative session going strong, many of our unions have appeared virtually or headed to Annapolis to testify on bills that could meaningfully change working conditions and benefits for our public employees. Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees (BCFPE Local 4883) President John Ripley and Area Vice President Kasia Gatchalian testified on two bills that would affect 911 operators in Baltimore county.

BCFPE President John Ripley, Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-17), and BCFPE Area VP Kasia Gatchalian

The first is

The Lunar New Year is a time when many of our members and millions of people across the world gather with their families to celebrate the coming year. They do this while hoping the coming year brings greater safety, happiness, and prosperity. This year is the Year of the Tiger, specifically the Water Tiger. Those born in the Year of the Tiger are believed to be charming, competitive, and brave. Those are qualities we hope each of us can embody at some point this year. Tiger years are auspicious years with the strength and force of the tiger. May we all embody that strength in the coming year. As with other holidays, the ongoing pandemic may make celebrating with family difficult, but... CLICK TO READ MORE

BCFPHN holds Student Debt Clinic

Student debt affects millions of Americans and many are looking for ways to alleviate the heavy burden that student loan debt has become. AFT offers a range of ways to help members who are trying to work around their student debt. Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses (BCFPHN) Local 5102 tapped into those resources when they invited Greg Goff from AFT Higher Education to deliver a virtual presentation to members. Click to read MORE

BTU holds press conference regarding COVID-19 safety in schools

The Omicron variant of Covid-19 has made returning to work a challenge for public employees. Perhaps no place is more challenged than our schools. The Baltimore Teachers Union held a press conference to call for enhanced PPE, greater testing among students, and increased opportunities to vaccinate students.The union believes these strategies will reduce the spread of Covid-19 and will help to keep members and the students they work with safe. The press conference featured a number of political leaders, community organizations, and parent groups who are all allies to the union and remain committed to ensuring that if students are in school, it is done as safely as possible. Click to read MORE

Member Meet-and-Greet Events Continue

Members continue to hear from Maryland gubernatorial candidates during AFT-Maryland’s candidate meet-and-greet events. These virtual conversations provide members the opportunity to hear from candidates for Governor about their vision for the state in 2022 and beyond. Last week, public employees heard from Comptroller Peter Franchot and former U.S. Secretary of Education John King. Click through to read MORE