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The AFT Healthcare Maryland held a steward training at their headquarters on Rutherford Road. This gathering of new union activists show that the commitment to democracy in the workplace is alive and well. The local welcomed more than a dozen members interested in being a voice for their fellow workers in the workplace. At the training, the members learned and developed a number of ways to best advocate for public sector workers.

In light of the Janus decision soon expected from the Supreme Court, every example of democracy in the workplace shows the will of the worker is not defined by a

Following intense lobbying by AFT Healthcare-Maryland, Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk sent a letter to Secretary of Health Robert Neall, inquiring about understaffing at state psychiatric hospitals. The union thanks Del. Melnyk for her followup and will continue to monitor the discussions between the delegate who is a member of the Health and Government Operations committee and the Maryland Department of Health. 

During the legislative session, union activists and staff made presentations to Del. Melnyk detailing the work conditions and the effects of understaffing. She understood their position

The Maryland/DC Alliance for Retired Americans held a statewide meeting at the Baltimore Teachers Union. The group gathered to discuss a number of issues pertinent to members of the organization. Retirees from the City Union of Baltimore and the Baltimore Teachers Union made up a significant number of those in attendance. Retirees from other AFL-CIO unions including AFSCME and SEIU were also in attendance.

The group discussed a number of issues including health care costs as well as the upcoming Maryland election season. Members had a chance to review the AFL-CIO recommendations and

A hallmark of any union is member engagement. That can come in many ways. For the Baltimore Teachers Union, one way it comes is through the AFT/BTU Teacher Leaders Program. This program engages BTU members through ways to conduct research, learn more about unionism, and be better teachers for the students of Baltimore city.

At the end of every school year, the teachers who participate in the program share their research and conclusions. This year was no different, but one thing that did make this cohort group unique were the number of speakers and presenters who met with them throughout the

The AFT-Maryland held their Triennial Constitutional Convention the weekend of April 20th. The convention celebrated the theme Standing on the Shoulders of Labor Giants: Fighting for Our Future. It featured remarks by labor leaders in and around Baltimore, including Donna Edwards, President of the Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO as well as Jermaine Jones, President of the Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO.

Leaders from years past were not only mentioned but celebrated. Delegates and guests heard from AFT National Secretary Treasurer Dr. Lorretta Johnson, who reminded the audience that the people

In honor of Women's History Month, AFT-Maryland has been acknowledging women in the federation who are leaders in their local unions and in the labor movement.

This month, we've honored

• Tiffany Walker of the City Union of Baltimore
• Karen Heppner of AFT Healthcare-Maryland
• Graceann Rehbein of Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees
• LaKebra Clark of the Baltimore Teachers Union

Click on the links to read more about these outstanding women in the Maryland labor movement. 

LaKebra Clark is a paraprofessional educator at Pimlico Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore, MD. She is also a committed and loyal member of the Baltimore Teachers Union. Her passion for young people is high and that is evident in the work she does going above and beyond her duties to meet the needs of the students in her school. This school year she organized a shoe drive so the children of her school could have a basic need that unfortunately so many of them went without.

She was also a pivotal and instrumental member of the BTU’s “Bringing Back Baltimore” or B3 Campaign, which brought back

Graceann Rehbein has been an employee of Baltimore County Government for nearly 28 years and has been an active member of Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees for 12 years. In addition to her active membership, she is a dedicated COPE contributor. Graceann has served as a Delegate, as a Steward, and on the Election Committee for BCFPE.

Beyond her work for her union, Graceann is a political and community activist who volunteers in organizing community events. Because of her community work she was awarded the Good Neighbor Week Award in 2009.

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Women's History Month celebrates the great