News

On Tuesday, September 9th, dozens of faculty at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) – who unionized with United Academics of Maryland (UAMD), an affiliate of AFT Maryland, nearly one year ago – joined students, union leaders, electeds, and community groups at a rally to demand the fair contract faculty deserve after months of bargaining.

While BCCC’s president rakes in over half a million dollars a year, BCCC faculty are regularly experiencing delayed or inaccurate payroll as they face chronic understaffing on campus. ...

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As the Summer comes to an end, the weather begins to cool and the leaves begin to change, we get to celebrate our holiday – Labor Day.

Throughout the long history of this holiday and labor movement, we have seen workers flooding the streets advocating for improved rights and freedoms for working people and making their voices heard. The labor movement has seen countless victories accomplishing just that for workers across this country – fighting to ensure that as the times change, workers are not left behind.

Yet, as we know, the fight for fairness is a long one, and it is one that continues to be increasingly difficult at a time when workers are...

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University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) residents and fellows, represented by the University of Maryland Resident and Fellow Alliance (UMRFA) – an affiliate of AFT Maryland – have voted to ratify their first-ever union contract, which includes double-digit salary increases and major improvements to working conditions, benefits, and quality of life.

The contract addresses major wage discrepancies as compared to peer hospitals in the state by granting a 20% salary increase over the next 3 years, a drastic improvement compared to the average annual raise of only 2% over the last 10 years. The contract also establishes a Labor-Management Committee to maintain their seat at the table with UMMC, ensuring that residents and fellows can continue to address specific or systemic concerns of house staff.

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On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, faculty, students, and community leaders gathered at Prince Georges Community College to rally against an unfair and deeply insulting pay proposal from administration.

The administration’s so-called “last, best, and final offer” includes just a 3.5% raise for faculty—while administrators are set to receive a 14% pay increase.

“This offer is a slap in the face to the educators who make this institution run," said faculty member Jamal Mahbub. “It’s not just about numbers. It’s about respect, and this proposal shows none.”

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Independence Day marked a turning point in American history. The start of a new chapter in the formation of a nation built on shared ideals and the pursuit of a better future. It’s a day to honor the courage of those who dared to imagine a future shaped by the will of the people. 

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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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