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Happy Juneteenth!

160 years ago, the last of the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed. Since then, Juneteenth has stood as a celebration of liberation, resistance, and the long struggle for Black freedom in America.

Juneteenth is an opportunity to celebrate our country resisting institutionalized labor exploitation, as well as enshrining freedom for all regardless of race. Slavery used race to mark Black workers as vulnerable and exploitable, but in doing so, it devalued all workers. The abolition of slavery had ripple effects across the country, laying the groundwork for improved labor rights and shifting the conversation about fair work and dignity on the job.

This year’s Juneteenth carries particular weight...

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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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This is an important week for AFT Maryland as we proudly celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, Nurses Appreciation Week, and Public Service Workers Recognition Week. AFT Maryland represents dedicated workers who keep our communities running: educators, healthcare workers, state employees, and civil servants. You are the backbone of our schools, hospitals, agencies, and institutions, and the value you bring to Maryland cannot be overstated.

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Today, we remember, honor, and mourn the lives of workers who should still be with us – the unsung heroes whose lives were lost while they were serving the people of Maryland – but we also make sure that their memory fuels the fight to ensure that this never happens to another worker again.

This Workers’ Memorial Day, we are met with the reality that many of our members continue to face dangerous conditions every single day...

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After a winter that demanded resilience and collective effort, we welcome spring! Throughout the colder months and now into this new season, our members have been organizing for change for education, healthcare, public service and all workers here in Maryland.

This winter, we faced large amounts of adversity, with the wave of attacks on public education, civil servants, and vital healthcare by the new administration that is leaving many feeling uncertain and wary. Despite this, our union continues to grow stronger...

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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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AFT Maryland members and staff were thrilled to participate once again this year with Metro Baltimore Council AFL-CIO in support of AFL-CIO Community Services' Holiday Food and Toy drive, helping to make the holidays brighter for those in need. New toys, non-perishable foods, and donations were collected throughout the season, and dozens of volunteers came together to sort, package, and distribute food baskets and toys.

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The holidays are a time to be cheerful, loving, appreciative, and giving. The Thanksgiving holiday was a perfect kickoff to a season of gratitude and reflection. A number of religious and spiritual holidays occur at the end of the calendar year and collectively they encourage us to be resolute in our commitments to one another. They invite us to center kindness, community, and appreciation as we reflect on the previous year. Thankfully these are tenets of the labor movement which we practice daily. We have consistently demonstrated our solidarity with other labor unions, community initiatives, and most importantly within our own state federation. Our collaborations have produced victories at the bargaining table and in communities across Baltimore and throughout the state of Maryland.

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Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated holidays throughout the United States, and for good reason. It comes toward the latter portion of the year when it feels appropriate to wind down and enjoy the bounty of the harvest. We can at once be aware of the deeply uncomfortable and quite honestly troubling origins of the holiday, while being deeply grateful for the blessings we currently enjoy. Despite the various challenges we have faced, each of us has something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

The state federation is thankful for our new headquarters. This facility has already been a welcome home to members and truly a house of labor. We are thankful to ... 

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Now more than ever all Americans should be grateful for the service of those who sacrifice so much for their fellow citizens. This year, it is my hope that our deep respect and reverence for service members from all walks of life will give this Veterans Day a greater meaning than in years past. 

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