HOWARD COUNTY – In a major victory for higher education workers, faculty at Howard Community College, represented by United Academics of Maryland (UAMD), have reached a tentative agreement on their first-ever union contract. This victory marks the second UAMD-represented institution to reach a tentative agreement this year and since the State Legislature expanded collective bargaining rights to community college faculty in 2021.

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This year has tested us all. The hostile takeover by the new administration has left many uncertain about the future of our schools, our jobs, and the communities we serve. Memorial Day offers us a pause, a chance to take a breath, reflect, and reset. It’s a reminder that even in trying times, the seasons shift, the days grow longer, warmer, and we are still here, standing strong together.

Beyond the cookouts and family gatherings, Memorial Day asks something deeper of us – to honor the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in service to something greater than themselves. As public employees, we know what it means to fight and serve for our communities. And so we hold a special reverence for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in that same spirit.

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Join us on March 4 and stand up to protect our kids!

On Tuesday, March 4, educators, students, parents and community allies will stand up against assaults on public education and on opportunity for America’s youth. We are calling on lawmakers to strengthen, not undermine, our local public schools and the services they provide to children, families and communities.

By highlighting the harmful consequences of these attacks on public schools and students, we aim to build public pressure on policymakers and amplify the voices of those directly impacted.

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The Social Security Fairness Act Gains Overwhelming Bipartisan Support with 325 Cosponsors

The Social Security Fairness Act, a bill pending in the U.S. House of Representatives, would correct injustices by repealing both the WEP and GPO, ensuring that teachers, park rangers, and other public sector workers receive the full Social Security benefits they are entitled to.

Under current law, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduces the Social Security benefits of individuals who received a pension from government employment. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces benefits for those whose spouses received a government pension. Combined, these provisions have unfairly penalized retirees, denying them the full benefits they have earned over their careers. [...]

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Convention 2024:
Real Solutions for Maryland Labor and Communities

The AFT Maryland Triennial Convention for 2024 will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

See below for important information about the event and check back regularly for updates. Click through for more.
 

It is once again Black History Month and as a union of professionals in service to the public, this should be a celebration for all Marylanders. Many of us appreciate the historic contributions made to our state and country by Black people as those contributions have only served to enhance our nation and make the United States more just. As Americans, our country’s history is not something that should be ignored or diminished. We must tell honest truths, difficult as they may be, if we are indeed to create a more perfect union. 

Thankfully the labor movement has been and continues to be a place where Black people have been celebrated in community with others. CLICK TO READ MORE...