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AFT-Maryland at AFT Civil, Human, and Women's Rights Conference 2019

Unions and social justice have gone hand-in-hand for decades. Any organization that’s committed to democracy and fairness in the workplace would logically work to ensure that the rights of all people are upheld. AFT is no different, and the Civil, Human, and Women’s Rights Committee is the arm of the union that works on these issues specifically. It’s with this that a contingency from AFT-Maryland made their way to Montgomery, Alabama for the 2019 AFT Civil, Human, and Women’s Rights Conference.

Led by AFT-Maryland President Marietta English, members from the Baltimore Teachers Union Local 340

Randi Weingarten and NYC teacher Tamara Simpson

Attacks on public education in America by extremists and culture-war peddling politicians have reached new heights (“lows” may be more apt), but they are not new. The difference today is that the attacks are intended not just to undermine public education but to destroy it.

AFT-Maryland’s presence in the community knows no limits or bounds. It makes sense then, that when SEIU 32BJ and Maryland Secure Wages Coalition held a Worker Appreciation Cookout in Baltimore, the state federation was there in solidarity and unity with our labor sisters and brothers. Carroll Park was full of vibrant energy, enthusiastic workers and engaged union staff and members as workers were appreciated. This event is keeping with an ongoing effort to organize workers at transportation hubs throughout the state including Penn Station, the port, and BWI-Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Beyond

The Baltimore Teachers Union Retiree Chapter (BTU 340R) recently had newly elected executive board members sworn in to office. These officers represent the retirees’ interests in a number of different capacities. Our retirees are among the state federation’s most loyal and consistent volunteers for community outreach efforts, phone banking in support of union-endorsed candidates, and lobbying in Annapolis and in Baltimore city.

Velma Hicks was re-elected to president, while Thomas Frazier will serve as vice president. The secretary is Geneva Harris, while Blanch Morgan III is the treasurer. Oz

When the community calls, AFT-Maryland answers. This was the case when the state federation joined former Delegate Bilal Ali and a host of west Baltimore community members for a back-to-school family fun day. The event took place at Warwick Park and featured a number of fun and exciting activities for the children. The highlight was a backpack giveaway that also came with school supplies to get young people ready for the upcoming school year. Additionally, there were visits from Baltimore elected officials including Mayor Jack Young, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, Councilman John Bullock, and

With the school year underway, educators in Baltimore city eagerly welcomed their students back to school. For new educators, the first week was an opportunity to get themselves acquainted with the daily mechanics of the school and the students. The advice and preparation from others were now to be put into practice. After the first week, the Baltimore Teachers Union (BTU) gathered the New Teachers Steering Committee for a brunch to goal-set the committee’s objectives for the upcoming school year.

BTU field representative Cindy Sjoquist organized the gathering at Baltimore’s Dovecote Cafe

Healthcare professionals at Clifton T. Perkins turned to their union when they wanted changes at their facility. Their union, AFT Healthcare-Maryland, hearing the demand from members, arranged a meeting with state legislative leaders so they could hear from our members just what was going on in their districts. State Senator Guy Guzzone and Delegate Terri Hill met with AFT Healthcare-Maryland members at Perkins Hospital Center. Del. Hill shares quite a bit in common with the members at the facility, as she is also a trained medical professional. Her knowledge led to a robust conversation

Statement on Gun Violence in Texas and Ohio

STATEMENT FROM AFT-MARYLAND PRESIDENT MARIETTA ENGLISH
ON THE RECENT MASS SHOOTINGS IN TEXAS AND OHIO

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"62648","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","style":"width: 45%; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px; float: right;"}}]]Over the weekend, the nation once again witnessed violence in its worst form: mass shootings that took the lives of nearly 30 people in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. These shootings are again abhorrent and represent the worst in human behavior. They demonstrate that too many Americans use violence as the language with which they communicate. While we are still waiting for a motive in the Dayton shooting, we know the violence in El Paso was motivated by white supremacist xenophobia and ethnic hatred. We also know the shooter was inspired by the words and behavior of our president. White supremacist violence has long haunted many Americans and has resulted in the death of too many black and brown people.

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AFT-Maryland convened the state federation’s political committee to discuss and prepare for the upcoming 2020 elections. In compliance with all federal labor laws, no members’ dues are used for electoral politics. Instead, the Committee On Political Education (COPE) raises funds from member contributions outside of dues, dedicated explicitly to and for use in political candidate campaigns.

The locals represented at the meeting were the Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees (BCFPE), AFT Healthcare MD (AFTHCMD), and the City Union of Baltimore (CUB). Leaders from those locals discussed

The 2019 cohort of teachers that made up the Baltimore Teachers Union Teacher Leaders Program displayed their work before an audience of peers and supporters at their closing exercise. The Teacher Leader program is funded by a grant from AFT. It allows participants to identify an educational obstacle, and during the course of the eight-month program, they research solutions to the problem.

BTU Teacher Leader Facilitator Carla McCoy said, “As has been the standard for the AFT/BTU Teachers Leaders, Cohort 7 did not disappoint! Each participant used their passion for students and other

AFT-Maryland at AFT Civil, Human, and Women's Rights Conference 2019

In defense of public education

AFT-Maryland Shows Union Solidarity in the Community

BTU Retiree Officers Sworn In

AFT-Maryland Back to School Event

BTU New Teacher Steering Meeting

Sen. Guzzone & Del. Hill Visit Perkins

Statement on Gun Violence in Texas and Ohio

AFT-Maryland COPE Meeting held

BTU 2019 Teacher Leaders