State workers can think of 2.5 billion reasons to take to the streets and demand Governor Hogan recognize them as the heroes they are. That 2.5 billion figure represents the surplus to the Maryland state budget. The pandemic threatened the economic coffers of the state, but thanks to federal investment and collective sacrifice, Maryland was able to stave off the worst damages and now finds itself in position to move forward with a sunnier economic forecast.
“Every day, you don’t know what you’re going to be dealing with and your plans are always being upended by circumstances in the park.” That’s how MPEC Local 6197 member Chris Czarra described his experience working as a park ranger in Maryland state parks. Czarra’s testimony to the Maryland State Parks Investment Commission dramatized what a day in the life of Maryland park rangers looks like. Czarra’s testimony continues the union’s efforts for fair wages, greater working conditions, and overall better treatment for Maryland park rangers.
A hallmark of union activism is persistence. That’s why AFT-Maryland continues to join with our union family to support members from UNITE HERE Local 7 in their fight against the Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel, formerly the Sheraton Columbia. Union activists again protested outside the hotel demanding hospitality workers get their jobs back - jobs they lost through no fault of their own but because of pandemic-related shutdowns.
Much of Maryland is returning to business and workers who had jobs before the pandemic should be given the option to work at those jobs when businesses fully reopen.
Unions make everything in Baltimore better, including the struggling baseball team. During another rebuilding season with lots of losing, the Orioles pulled out a win on Union Night defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3. AFT-Maryland was in attendance with family from the Metro Baltimore AFL-CIO to cheer on the birds.
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Despite the presence of the Delta and Delta+ variants of the COVID-19 virus, most reopening plans are underway. The return to normalcy hasn’t been completely smooth, especially for hospitality workers. Workers from Unite Here Local 7 at Merriweather Lakehouse, the hotel formerly known as Sheraton Columbia, held a rally demanding their jobs be reinstated when the hotel reopens. During the pandemic-related shutdown, the hotel came under new management.
On behalf of AFT-Maryland, I offer condolences to the Trumka and entire AFL-CIO family on the passing of Richard Trumka. Mr. Trumka served at the helm of the AFL-CIO for nearly 12 years, leading with concern and care for every worker in the United States. His leadership on behalf of the working people in this country has been well documented and will continue to be in the days to come as people all over the world eulogize him.
AFT-Maryland successfully held their 2021 Triennial Convention virtually. Although it was heartbreaking not to be together in person, the virtual convention came as close to recreating the feeling of worker solidarity and forward progression for the state federation as possible. Take a look at a recap from the two-day convention. Special thank you to our locals and delegates for a great convention.
Click here to watch the recap video on AFT-Maryland's YouTube channel.
Renee Reisinger enjoys working as a public health professional. She also appreciates that it’s never too late to learn something new. This is why she joins a select few with the distinction of graduating from a first-in-the-nation Master’s Program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. The program is in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics. In this member spotlight, Renee talks with AFT-Maryland Communication Director Ray Baker about what she’s learned in the program and how the program is helping advance the field of public health. AFT-Maryland and BCFPHN are proud of each and every member who...
The AFT-Maryland Virtual Triennial Convention for 2021, "Continuing the Fight for Democracy: Labor Unions, Organizing and Collective Bargaining", will be held virtually from Friday, May 21, 2021 through Saturday, May 22, 2021.
See below for important information about the event, and check back regularly for updates.
Join AFT-Maryland for a presentation on
Understanding Workers' Comp
and Maryland Presumptive Language on COVID-19.
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
via Zoom Webinar.