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The Baltimore AFL-CIO will decide which candidate will receive Labor's endorsement for Mayor of Baltimore. The unions of the AFT-Maryland, including the Baltimore Teachers Union, the City Union of Baltimore, and other state and county unions, will help make that decision.

Click on the names of the Mayoral candidates below to review their responses to AFT-Maryland's 2016 Candidate Questionnaire for Baltimore City Races.

• Mack Clifton
• Sheila Dixon
• Elizabeth Embry
• Patrick Gutierrez
• Nick Mosby
• Catherine Pugh
• Carl Stokes
• David Warnock
• Calvin Young

For more information about AFT-Maryland's participation in the

Delegates and State Senators in Annapolis made their way to the Maryland Inn Monday night for an AFT-Maryland legislative reception. It was well attended by labor leaders and elected officials alike. The staff and service at the Maryland Inn was superb as politicians got a chance to meet with important figures in Baltimore and ostensibly Maryland's labor movement.

Local presidents such as John Ripley (BCFPE), Karen Pilecki (BCFPHN), Maria Mathias (MPEC), Yvonne Rice (CUB), and Marietta English (AFT Maryland and BTU) were in attendance. Conversation around serious political issues were minimal

As the race for elected office in Baltimore City continues, AFT-Maryland hosted a candidate forum for those running for City Council in Districts 2, 3, 12, and 13. Among those in attendance were Brandon Scott, Tony Chrisitan, Marques Dent, Jermaine Jones, Ryan Dorsey, George Van Hook, Jason Pyeron, Gary Crum, Shannon Sneed, and George Johnson. Members listened as each candidate presented their vision for Baltimore City and the specific districts they seek to represent.

The forum tackled mainly education questions including the question of funding for Baltimore City Public Schools. Some

AFT-Maryland will interview candidates who want to represent your district in the Baltimore City Council. Members of AFT-Maryland affiliated local unions are invited to attend, to ensure the candidates know our members' priorities.

Help us decide who to support for the AFL-CIO Endorsement.

 

Districts 2, 3, 12, & 13 (click for flyer)
Thurs., Feb. 4th, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Districts 1, 8, 9, 10, & 11 (click for flyer)
Wed., Feb. 10th, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Meet Maryland Professional Employees Council (MPEC) member Chris Czarra. He is a park ranger at Patapsco State Park working in the Department of Natural Resources.

He joined the union recently in June 2015 after two organizers knocked on his door. Although he's only been a member for a short time, he is already preparing to become a union steward. Among the benefits he says the union provides are protection of employee rights, fighting for fair pay, and allowing employees to speak openly about work conditions. Another great benefit of the union is the unity among members across different state

The governor's $42 billion Maryland State spending budget has been unveiled, and it includes a step increase for State Employees without the cuts to overtime or sick leave rights that he originally proposed. This is a big win for union members, who have fought hard for this increase.

On the other hand, the governor has proposed eliminating state employee positions to "right-size" many departments. Other positions and services could be privatized, which means lower wages and no union contract.

NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP.

Join us for Lobby Night in Annapolis this Monday, Jan. 25th. AFT-Maryland

Community members gathered at the Maryland State House in Annapolis on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 in support of voting rights. They are calling on the State Legislature to override Gov. Larry Hogan's May 2015 veto of a bill that would have given earlier voting rights to ex-offenders.

The Unlock the Vote Rally on Thursday was organized by Maryland Communities United, and among the organizations represented were the AFL-CIO, CWA, AFT-Maryland, 1199 SEIU, IBEW, ARA, and Forward Baltimore.

The bill, sponsored by Delegate Cory McCray and Senator Joan Carter Conway, would have allowed felons to vote as

Members of BTU, CUB, and BCFPE joined with their sisters and brothers in the labor movement to stand in opposition to the Friedrichs case before the Supreme Court. The case seeks to answer whether non members of public sector unions should pay "agency fees" or "fair share" for the pay and benefits negotiated on their behalf by the union. Speakers and signs urged people to #WorkTogether in the fight for fairness and opportunity.

The case is hotly contested and the decision is expected to be a "5-4 decision" meaning that one justice may swing the balance of power for public sector unions. Union