AFT Maryland and many of our local affiliates once again participated in the AFL-CIO Community Services of Central Maryland's annual Holiday Basket and Toy Drive for union families in need. AFT Maryland staff, Kolade Balogun and Jeffery Johnson helped to coordinate with the AFL-CIO and our affiliates to set up donation boxes, collect non perishable food items and toys for families. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

We know this has been a challenging time for our neighbors and communities across the state. Uncertainty around access to basic resources, food, travel, and healthcare caused by decisions made at the federal level that left many wondering how they would put food on the table, visit loved ones this holiday season, or address health concerns.

Yet even with so much unfolding around us, the season welcomes moments of reflection and connection, reminding us of what matters most and the importance of making memories with the people we hold close.

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Maryland’s 911 Specialists should have the same access to the state retirement benefits available to other public safety personnel (first responders), such as police, firefighters, and EMS workers. Unfortunately, the Internal Revenue (IRS) Code that governs qualified government pension plans will not allow it. 

The Maryland 911 Specialist Recruitment and Retention Workgroup has appealed to Congressional leaders, the Congressional NextGen 911 Caucus and Maryland’s federal delegation, to request support to amend the code. 

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AFT Maryland members and staff joined with an annual Community Trunk or Treat event for kids and families on Saturday, Oct. 25th, 2025 in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of Baltimore. We were there with snacks and free books for the kids, and voter registration information for the grown-ups. It was a great afternoon for everyone.

AFT Maryland joined other sponsors of the event, including the A Philip Randolph Institute, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, Baltimore Metro Council AFL-CIO, several other unions, Hope Chapel Baptist Church, and the Rogue Auto Family. 

The FY2026 budget dominated the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session, as lawmakers worked to close a projected $3 billion deficit. The final budget package - HB 350 (Budget Bill) and HB 352 (Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act, or BRFA) - includes both spending cuts and new revenues to balance the budget while maintaining investments in education and public employees.

AFT Maryland and its affiliate unions tracked over 35 bills, testified on more than a dozen, and submitted written testimony in over 45 hearings. We thank all our locals for submitting testimony and coordinating with the state federation to get witnesses to Annapolis.

While not every bill we supported passed, we achieved significant victories: passing key legislation, preserving critical budget funding, and defeating proposals that would have harmed our affiliates and members.

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AFT Maryland delegates and leaders took to Houston, Texas to join with thousands of other AFT members for the national union’s biennial convention. AFT Maryland was prominently featured in signage as well as on the convention floor. The state federation turned heads throughout the nation with our organizing of public employees from the Maryland School for the Deaf, various community college faculty, and residents and fellows at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

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