News

During the month of July, 2015, Baltimore City Public  Schools will be hosting a series of community conversations around Baltimore City to discuss how school police can work with schools, students, and the community to keep students safe and in school during the day.

In the 2015 Maryland Legislative Session, a bill was introduced to allow Police to carry guns in schools. The legislation didn't make it out of committee, but we anticipate that similar legislation will be introduced again next session and that this will be a major topic of discussion at these Community Conversations this month.

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Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake stood in front of Carver Vocational Technical High School in West Baltimore to announce $4.2 million for programs that will benefit youth and communities across Baltimore City. That money serves a variety of purposes  including funding enrichment activities both during school and out of school hours, and additional funding for Baltimore's award-winning Community Schools strategy.

The Baltimore Education Coalition (BEC) and the Maryland Out of School Time Network (MOST) were active partners with AFT-Maryland in lobbying city officials for the funds. Mayor

Op-Ed by BTU & AFT-Maryland president, Marietta English in The Baltimore Sun:

Members of AFT-Maryland turned out in a show of solidarity to stand with AFL-CIO sisters and brothers of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU)​​. The show of force was to protest to privatization of postal service, as the USPS has a deal with Staples where they provide mailing service to customers costing numerous APWU members jobs.

The protest was organized by a group called Popular Resistance, a progressive group who does work on behalf of public sector unions as well as other causes that directly affect the general public. The response to the protest was strong as many citizens honked in

AFT-Maryland will be holding a Voter Registration Volunteer Training on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Baltimore Teachers Union offices at 5800 Metro Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215. Learn how to register voters for the 2016 Primary and General Elections. The training is open to union members and to community activists.

Voter Registration Volunteer Training
Tues., May 26, 2015
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
BTU Headquarters
5800 Metro Dr., Baltimore, MD 21215

If interested in attending, RSVP to Todd Reynolds, Political Coordinator at AFT-Maryland, by Friday, May 22nd, by 2:00 p.m.  at (410) 764-3030

The Baltimore Teachers Union joined with the rest of the Baltimore Education Coalition and concerned parties from all across the state to call on Governor Larry Hogan to release Geographic Cost of Education Index (GCEI) funding.

For Baltimore city schools, that money would total somewhere around $12 million.The General Assembly found money in the budget to fund GCEI but Governor Hogan has not yet released the funds. The money allocated for education can not be used on anything else.

Several notable attendees spoke at the press conference including Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

Cast against a backdrop of a city in unrest, AFT-Maryland held their triennial convention in Pikesville, MD on May 1-2, 2015. Delegates from our local unions across the state came out and joined in what was a modest celebration of all the Union had accomplished over the past three years. The celebration was subdued due to the recent civil unrest and ensuing property damage that was taking place in the heart of West Baltimore.

The convention undoubtedly had some fiery moments however, starting with the impassioned speeches delivered by AFT National Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Lorretta Johnson and

After a hard-fought campaign, Governor Larry Hogan has announced he will release the $68 million set aside to maintain the 2 percent salary increase—one that was negotiated and finalized last year by public employee unions and the state—for state employees. This was initially a point of contention between the Governor and state workers but his recent announcement has improved the relationship tremendously.

Several local labor leaders weighed in on Gov. Hogan's decision:

"Our members are pleased that Governor Hogan decided to do the right thing and honor the agreement that was negotiated between

In the wake of serious civil unrest last week Baltimore Teachers Union members took the streets to help clean up their city. Many went to the epicenter of the conflict, Pennsylvania & North avenues to sweep debris and provide lunch, bottles of water, and supplies to affected residents.

Other members fanned out across the city to distribute FirstBook books to young people gathered at churches.

BTU President Marietta English presented a check for $5,000 to the Southern Baptist Church to help rebuild a senior living facility that was burned to the ground on  Monday, April 27.