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BTU Members testify against Guns in Classrooms

Following the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, communities and legislatures across the country are trying to develop ways to ensure student and teacher safety in the school building. One suggestion brought forth in the Maryland House of Delegates was a bill allowing teachers and educational staff to be armed. There were a number of supporters for the bill, but few more compelling than hearing from teachers and students themselves.

Following testimony from Montgomery County Public Schools students, teachers from Baltimore City Public Schools gave

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Labor Union Women: Karen Heppner

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"52707","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","style":"width: 20%; height: 20%; float: right;"}}]]Karen Heppner has demonstrated the type of leadership and activism that would make any union member proud. She has been a registered nurse working for the state of Maryland at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center for over 20 years. When the state refused to pay the negotiated retention bonus to nurses at her facility, she led the fight to force management to honor the contract. She organized nurses at her facility, where a class action complaint was filed, which led to a decision in the union’s favor from an independent arbitrator.

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Labor Union Women: Tiffany Walker

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"52167","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","style":"width: 20%; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: right;"}}]]Tiffany Walker is employed with the City of Baltimore as Community Liaison I with the Department of Public Works. Mrs. Walker was elected as Secretary for CUB in October 2010. She served two terms before being elected Executive Vice President in October 2016. She has since moved to working as a CUB Labor Relations Specialist to better serve the membership. Tiffany has always been active within the union serving as a delegate as well as on several committees such as the COPE, Personnel, Social, and Constitution and By-laws committees. She was chairperson of the COPE committee and has remained active on this committee to this day.

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Janus Rally at the Supreme Court

AFT-Maryland rallied with the national AFT office and a host of activists as the Supreme Court heard opening arguments in the Janus v. AFSCME 31 case. The case centers on Mark Janus, an Illinois child support specialist, being unwilling to pay his fair share as a non-union member although the union negotiated and bargained for the benefits he enjoys as an employee of the state.

In addition to a number of national labor unions in attendance including AFT, AFSCME, and SEIU, there were also a host of civil rights organizations and allies to labor unions who showed up that day. The Alliance to

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BCFPE in Annapolis

BCFPE President, John Ripley, was in Annapolis lobbying for members of the Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees. He testified to different Senate and House committees and held conversations with state leaders all for the benefit of county public employees. His goals during the meetings and conversations were to make sure the needs of municipal employees were not only heard but also considered at the state level.

BCFPE represents a diverse array of public workers employed by Baltimore County. Many of the decisions governing their work status and situation are made at the county level

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CUB Organizing Training

The City Union of Baltimore’s executive board as well as leadership from the CUB Retiree chapter met for an organizing training. Much of the organizing was gearing up for the expected verdict once the Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 case is decided. The lessons were important and necessary for CUB to grow as a strong union that represents public employees of the City of Baltimore and Baltimore City Public Schools. There will be a follow up meeting in May.
 
2018-02
 
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