The Baltimore Teachers Union participated in the Mayor’s annual holiday parade. President Marietta English was driven in a car by her husband Mr. Raymond English with BTU members and staff walking along the parade route. The annual event down 34th street in Hampden is a tradition that brings the entire city together and heightens anticipation for the winter holiday season.

BTU was excited to participate in the event and was grateful to members and citizens alike who came out and waved, cheered, and enjoyed the festivities of the holiday celebration.

For more photos, visit the Baltimore Teachers

The Chair of the Kirwan Commission announced that he does not expect final recommendations from the Commission until after the 2018 session. However, there are still at least 3 commission meetings before the session begins, and the commission will issue at least a preliminary report to the 2018 state legislature. We are still hoping to push for our priorities on equitable and effective funding *this coming session*.

Additionally, the commission is considering some state-wide policy recommendations, from more CTE offerings, to expanding pre-k to 3 and 4 year olds in poverty, and a whole host of

If the GOP’s tax plan passes, not only will it be bad for Maryland (taxes on a large portion of people in our state will go up to offset/pay for tax breaks for corporations), it will be bad for education professionals specifically because it removes the tax deductions we get for purchasing supplies for our schools.

All but one Maryland representative in the US Congress oppose the GOP Tax Plan. Please call, and encourage members at your schools to call, Congressman Andy Harris at 202-225-5311. (Harris represents Northern Maryland, so if you live in Northern Baltimore County or Harford/Cecil

The follow up meeting with Baltimore Teachers Union and City Union of Baltimore retirees and Baltimore City Councilwomen Mary Pat Clarke and Shannon Sneed was an important launching point for the strategy these retirees will use to stay informed. The issue at hand is the status of prescription drug benefits for Baltimore city retirees in 2020.

Retirees from CUB and BTU testified during a recent hearing of what the changes to the existing health care plan would mean to them. Councilwoman Clarke sponsored the resolution that was considered at the hearing in October. The resolution simply called

After countless months of pressure on the state from AFT Healthcare-Maryland leaders and activists, the union has won a hard-fought victory for some members. The state has agreed to ensure retention bonuses and back pay to nurses in 24-hour facilities that have not already received it. Those who are to receive the back pay and/or retention bonus are supposed to receive it by November 15, 2017.

This has been an issue the union has been fighting for some time. Meetings were held with union leaders, legislators and the State in an effort to get the bonuses. The state federation supports the work