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

In anticipation of the upcoming legislative session, AFT-Maryland held their first lobby night training. Political Coordinator Todd Reynolds and Legislative Director Terence Cooper explained to the activists what issues the federation would be fighting for in Annapolis. Those who attended the training were updated on issues ranging from the state worker pension fund, education funding, due process for School for the Deaf employees, and other issues that will be of interest to AFT-Maryland. Members and allies will be participating in a Lobby Night on Jan. 25th.

The meeting also covered a host of

Meet Lisa Oelfke. She is a Health Policy Analyst in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She is also a member of AFT Healthcare-Maryland, and has been for the last five years.

Day to day, she analyzes healthcare policies and issues, all in an effort to improve medical assistance programs that serve some of the most vulnerable Marylanders. This job also sees her do instrumental work with the Maryland Health Connection (Maryland’s health care exchange developed as a result of the Affordable Care Act). The work she and her colleagues do has not gone unnoticed. Her office received the Team