The state federation continues to grow with the recent addition of more classifications of state employees, education professionals at the Maryland School for the Deaf, and higher education professionals from community colleges across the state. The additional members give events such as our annual Lobby Night more people, demonstrating more power and better positioning public employees to have their voices heard. AFT Maryland took two full buses to Annapolis to meet with legislators to advocate for the state federation’s legislative priorities. More members drove themselves and met us there to display the full power of our collective unions. 

Read on for photos and more about the event!

After over a year of bargaining, faculty have secured a tentative agreement addressing the critical issues that drove organizing over a year and a half ago.

Getting a handle on artificial intelligence (AI) before it gets out of control was a major topic at this year's National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Summit in Boston. The conference, its largest ever with over 9,000 state legislators, made it clear that without guardrails, AI could become a serious problem. The conversation was driven by the lessons learned from the rise of social media, where a lack of early regulation led to unforeseen issues.

AI presents both an opportunity and a threat. While it has the potential to improve our lives, it also poses a risk to jobs in education and healthcare. Governments and businesses could see AI as a quick and easy way to cut payroll, healthcare costs and lower taxes.

Independence Day marked a turning point in American history. The start of a new chapter in the formation of a nation built on shared ideals and the pursuit of a better future. It’s a day to honor the courage of those who dared to imagine a future shaped by the will of the people. 

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Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated holidays throughout the United States, and for good reason. It comes toward the latter portion of the year when it feels appropriate to wind down and enjoy the bounty of the harvest. We can at once be aware of the deeply uncomfortable and quite honestly troubling origins of the holiday, while being deeply grateful for the blessings we currently enjoy. Despite the various challenges we have faced, each of us has something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

The state federation is thankful for our new headquarters. This facility has already been a welcome home to members and truly a house of labor. We are thankful to ... 

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Memorial Day is a marker to get ready for vacations, and be sure children have their summer plans in order. The holiday also marks a season of optimism and is the first in a line of summer holidays that celebrate the rich, complex, and diverse history of the United States.

Memorial Day invites us to slow down and pause from the lightning quick pace that life has become. It can be difficult to stop scrolling, turn off the television, and put down the phone but that is what this holiday asks us to do. 

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