AFT-Maryland at Workers First Caravan
The challenges of COVID-19 have altered a number of normal routines and activities. The need to alter isn’t the same as canceling however, and unions have demonstrated that better than perhaps anyone. Ordinarily, if there was important legislation that affected union households, union activists would flood Capitol Hill to agitate for their issues. The mandates for social distancing created by the ongoing global pandemic meant that labor had to be creative in how they lobbied; and creative labor was with a mass worker caravan circling through downtown Washington, DC and the U.S. Capitol complex.
Union support is important for every worker on any job. During this global pandemic, that support becomes even more important. Locals from across the state federation, with support and guidance from AFT-Maryland, are working hard to meet the needs of members.
AFT-Maryland was out with sisters and brothers in labor at the Metro-Baltimore AFL-CIO Union night in Annapolis. The night was highlighted by the words of the Maryland and DC AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Gerald Jackson’s words that it doesn’t matter if you’re a D or R as long as you support labor issues.
AFT-Maryland stood in solidarity with our brother from SEIU32BJ as he faces discipline for testifying in Annapolis for higher wages. Berhanu Yiferu testified in Annapolis for a bill that would raise the wages of transportation employees. The next day he found out his services were no longer needed at his job.
Maryland School for the Deaf Faculty and Staff Association (MSDFSA) VP Jackie Guers made sure the word was spread throughout her campus that Wednesday, February 26, 2020 was Union Day. Faculty and staff at the Columbia campus turned out in great numbers to meet AFT-Maryland staff.
The 2019 novel coronavirus and its outbreak has people all over the world on high alert. Fortunately AFT-Maryland is the union for some of the best health care practitioners in the state.
Elected leaders are often the ones who referee public employees and their issues with management, so with the Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session underway for 2020, AFT-Maryland puts labor leaders and activists in front of decision makers who have a say in issues affecting state employees, municipal employees, and education employees.
Members from the affiliated locals of AFT-Maryland made their way to Annapolis to lobby elected officials on public employee issues that are coming up in the 2020 Maryland legislative session. Lobby night is an annual event that allows the state federation to put members before legislators to make their voices heard.