Legislative Session Ends:
Republicans in Maryland attack public employees, saying laying them off is “just a part of life.”
Whether at the federal, state, or local level, far-right politicians in Maryland have demonstrated their absolute disdain for employees in the public sector. The newly-formed Maryland House Republican Freedom Caucus, in response to the Elon Musk administration’s move to bulldoze federal agencies and fire thousands of Marylanders, callously responded that changing careers is “just a part of life.” (The Baltimore Banner) Try as they may to shirk any responsibility for pointless tariffs that are crashing our economy and destroying 401(k) retirement funds, or laying off hard-working Marylanders, these actions are not mere “facts of life” but instead a direct result of politically cruel, arbitrary decisions.
These direct attacks on Marylanders who chose government service, continued in Annapolis over the final week of work on the state budget. Some members of the legislature moved to cut Union-negotiated 1% COLA and step increases for state employees. Many complained the state’s workforce has grown too large. However, vacancies under the previous administration grew to the point that agencies did not have enough staff to do their basic functions. In addition, since the beginning of the pandemic, public school systems have faced historic teacher vacancies and staffing shortages.
Fortunately, the legislature was able to resist these cuts to the state workforce, and the House of Delegates fought cuts to funds to address teacher shortages. For state employees, all workers covered by a union contract will receive the agreed-upon 1% COLA and increment.
Article by AFT Maryland staff
2025-04-08