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State workers moving back into consistent in-person work in state buildings means our unions resume meeting them where they are to share the benefits of belonging to a union. The Maryland Professional Employees Council (MPEC) had a table in the State Office Building at 301 Preston Street last week where AFT-Maryland and MPEC staff greeted employees and assessed if they were in the MPEC bargaining unit and if they were members. The members cited the reopening as a major concern. Members appreciated telework because it ensured their safety as they continued to do the work to serve the residents

AFT-Maryland’s holiday spirit was on full display at the 2nd annual Trunk-or-Treat event in the parking lot of Baltimore's Arena Players, the oldest continuously performing and historically African-American community theatre in the United States. Just as last year, community groups and activists had voter registration information and of course candy and snacks for the trick-or-treaters in attendance. The community in the historic Madison neighborhood showed their appreciation for the effort. Children were eager to get candy while adults were grateful for the voter registration and community

AFT-Maryland President Kenya Campbell joined the NAACP Maryland State Conference for their 81st Annual Convention to discuss the future of labor for Black workers. President Campbell spoke on the panel representing the nearly 20,000 public employees across the state of Maryland that AFT-Maryland local affiliates represent in collective bargaining. The panel included leaders from a number of private and public labor organizations all discussing ways to ensure Black workers are included in the U.S. and Maryland’s rebuilding plan.

Consistent throughout the conversation was how labor organizations

State workers can think of 2.5 billion reasons to take to the streets and demand Governor Hogan recognize them as the heroes they are. That 2.5 billion figure represents the surplus to the Maryland state budget. The pandemic threatened the economic coffers of the state, but thanks to federal investment and collective sacrifice, Maryland was able to stave off the worst damages and now finds itself in position to move forward with a sunnier economic forecast.

The state workforce hasn’t shared in the sunny forecast in the same way. State employees across a number of agencies never received Covid

“Every day, you don’t know what you’re going to be dealing with and your plans are always being upended by circumstances in the park.” That’s how MPEC Local 6197 member Chris Czarra described his experience working as a park ranger in Maryland state parks. Czarra’s testimony to the Maryland State Parks Investment Commission dramatized what a day in the life of Maryland park rangers looks like. Czarra’s testimony continues the union’s efforts for fair wages, greater working conditions, and overall better treatment for Maryland park rangers. 

Earlier this summer, park rangers and MPEC members and

Despite the presence of the Delta and Delta+ variants of the COVID-19 virus, most reopening plans are underway. The return to normalcy hasn’t been completely smooth, especially for hospitality workers. Workers from Unite Here Local 7 at Merriweather Lakehouse, the hotel formerly known as Sheraton Columbia, held a rally demanding their jobs be reinstated when the hotel reopens. During the pandemic-related shutdown, the hotel came under new management. The new management is using the chaos caused by the sale and pandemic to deny workers the opportunity to come back to work on the terms they left

On behalf of AFT-Maryland, I offer condolences to the Trumka and entire AFL-CIO family on the passing of Richard Trumka. Mr. Trumka served at the helm of the AFL-CIO for nearly 12 years, leading with concern and care for every worker in the United States. His leadership on behalf of the working people in this country has been well documented and will continue to be in the days to come as people all over the world eulogize him.

In addition to his commitment to fighting for working people on domestic economic issues, he was also a champion seeking to build bridges across cultural and ethnic