News

CUB members stood with postal workers on Sunday, June 22nd at a "Stop Staples!" rally. Community members gathered in front of the Staples store at Eastpoint Mall on Eastern Avenue in Baltimore Sunday afternoon to tell the retail store to stop attacking good jobs and public post offices.

The City Union of Baltimore joins in telling Staples: THE U.S. MAIL IS NOT FOR SALE!

The recent Staples deal with the USPS will replace full-service U.S. Post Offices with knock-off post offices in Staples stores that are not staffed with U.S. Postal Service employees. We have a right to post offices staffed by

Results are in for Maryland's Primary elections. Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and Larry Hogan won the Democratic and Republican nominations for Governor, respectively. Brian Frosh won the Democratic nomination for Attorney General after a contentious race.

Democrats outnumbered Republicans by more than 2:1 in the polls. Voter turnout was low, though early voting increased over the last election.

Below are news links to to several stories of interest in this election.

---

Results: Primary elections, Maryland
The Washington Post, 6/25/14

Brown, Hogan win gubernatorial nominations
Washington Post, 6/25/14

Brian

Representatives from AFT-Maryland’s affiliate agencies, including union presidents, key staff members, and members of the AFT-Maryland Legislative and Political Action Committees attended training on Committees on Political Education (C.O.P.E.) and the federation’s political and legislative activities on June 19. Chris Runge, AFT Deputy Director, provided an overview of AFT’s political perspective and national priorities and presented information on the importance of building political power by encouraging members to participate in union C.O.P.E. activities.

Todd Reynolds, AFT-Maryland

A recent article by Dave Johnson on Salon.com explains why corporate CEOs make as much 300 times more than their employees. According to the article, the following factors result in exorbitant CEO pay and low wages for the average worker:

1. Free Trade—“Free trade” deals, the article says, allow companies to take good wages and worker safety and environmental protections overseas. Companies move production to places where people don’t have rights and the environment is even less protected, and then bring the same product or service back to America to sell for high prices.
2. Stock Ownership—CEOs are

Members of the Baltimore Teachers Union (BTU), national education advocates, and union leaders rallied at the administrative offices of the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) Monday, June 16th, to protest arbitrary changes made by school administrators to the teacher evaluation process. As a result of the school administration’s changes, teachers received lower evaluation scores and performance ratings. Teacher performance ratings are tied to teacher pay.

At the rally, BTU President Marietta English told the teachers and supporters that BTU will fight attempts by the school

The Baltimore Teachers Union (BTU) has filed a class action grievance against the Baltimore City Public School System.  BTU President Marietta English is urging teachers, PSRPs, and union supporters to RALLY against the changes made to the scoring of the teacher evaluation.

"Let's sent a message to the school district that we are not going to accept these changes. This is UNACCEPTABLE!"

Join us Monday, June 16, 2014
at the BCPSS Headquarters
200 E. North Ave, Baltimore
at 4:00 p.m.

Let the Baltimore School System know they can't change the rules in the middle of the game! Teachers deserve a fair

AFT-Maryland announced today the list of the Labor-Endorsed candidates for the 2014 Primary election. The list includes endorsements for state-wide races—including Governor and Attorney General—as well races for state senate, state house of delegates, and local, and county-wide races.

“We took a lot of time and effort to look at all the candidates quite closely,” said AFT-Maryland Political Coordinator Todd Reynolds. “We feel these candidates, at every level, are the best candidates to serve working families and their priorities in Annapolis or in county and city offices. We certainly hope that

MD/DC AFL-CIO president, Fred Mason, announces a Legislative Debriefing of the 2014 Maryland General Assembly.

Thursday, June 26, 2014
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
DoubleTree Hilton
1726 Reisterstown Rd, Baltimore

The fee is $40 per person, and includes breakfast, lunch, and materials.

Registration is required. Contact Kim Tucker at ktucker@mddcaflcio.org or (410) 269-1940.

Join your union sisters and brothers as we watch the three democratic candidates for governor– Heather Mizeur, Doug Gansler, and Labor-endorsed Anthony Brown – engage in the final debate before the primary election. Food and soft drinks will be provided.

.

Monday, June 2, 2014
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Baltimore Teachers Union
5800 Metro Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215

Please call Todd Reynolds at AFT-Maryland (410-764-3030) by May 29th to RSVP.

Click here for the event flyer.

The City Union of Baltimore launched its Reclaiming the Promise program on May 21. CUB leaders and activists signed on to the initiative during a stewards meeting and took hundreds of pledge cards back to their workplaces for colleagues to sign.

CUB, a public employee affiliate of the AFT, will use its Reclaiming the Promise of Quality Public Services for Strong Communities program to raise funds for needy members of their community. The union and its members will also reach out to residents of Baltimore to make them aware of the goals of Reclaiming the Promise.

For more photos, visit AFT