News

BTU's 3rd Annual PSRP Conference

The Baltimore Teachers Union's 3rd Annual PSRP Conference took place on Friday and Saturday (2/8-9) at the Baltimore Convention Center and it was a great success. More than 500 PSRPs engaged in a long list of dynamic workshops.

Ruby Newbold, President of the Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees and Quentin Lawson, the Executive Director of the National Alliance of Black School Educators were the guest speakers.

Mr. Lawson presented BTU with an award of recognition for the dedicated work that they do for education in Maryland. The award will be hanging in the BTU Office.

Viewing for Brenda Clayburn

Viewing information for Brenda Clayburn is now available on the CUB website.

Viewing: Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, 2:00 to 7:00 pm
Gary P. March Funeral Home
270 Fredhilton Pass, Baltimore, Maryland 21229

If not unions, then what?

(for full article, visit BaltimoreSun.com.)

You wouldn't know it from our nation's debate over Obamacare, but the U.S. has had government-supported health care for nearly 80 years. Not only that, but our nation bolsters a retirement level well beyond the thin safety net provided by Social Security, and it even ensures Americans a path to a family-supporting wage. And, no, I have not mistaken the U.S. for a socialist European nation.

Our government assures us these broad economic benefits by guaranteeing our right to form a labor union. Those among us who join a union — or who get a job with a

Brenda Clayburn, Pres. of CUB

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It with great sadness that we announce that Brenda Clayburn, President of the City Union of Baltimore (CUB) and member of the AFT Public Employees Program and Policy Council passed away over the weekend.

Brenda was a founding member of CUB and...

On November 6th, America witnessed an historic occurence. The re-election of President Barack Obama both shocked and elated not only America's voters, but people around the world. Prominent members of the Republican Party had announced that their first priority was to prevent the president from being re-elected.

In fact, it now has been revealed that certain governors and election officials consciously and deliberately conspired to suppress the Democratic turnout to prevent the president's victory. Right wing pundits confidently predicted the president's fall.

The majority of the nation's voters

Retreat Focuses on New Strategies, Effectiveness

AFT-Maryland President Marietta English convened members of the AFT-Maryland leadership and staff for a special training retreat in October, at the Mount Washington Conference Center in Baltimore. The retreat was devoted to a review and analysis of the federation's operations, and the identification of specific strategies and practices capable of increasing the federation's efficiency and effectiveness.

The retreat placed special emphasis on four key areas: legislative and political power; organizing and mobilization, communications, and community engagement.

Dr. Lorretta Johnson, Secretary

Candidate, Campaign, and Leadership Training this Saturday

From our friends at the Democratic Women's PAC of Maryland:

2012 brought many exciting victories for women leaders across the country, but the path to electoral and professional success for women today remains challenging in many ways. Women still have to work smarter and harder to raise money, to credential ourselves as viable leaders and candidates and to gain access to professional and financial networks often still shut off to women today..

Fortunately, there are a number of groups here in Maryland working hard to break down these barriers. I look forward to joining two of them: the

Helping teachers in Newtown

As the holidays end and we enter this new year, we are called upon to assist the community of Newtown, Conn. in its rebuilding efforts. This week, a coalition of education leaders joined in announcing the creation of a donation website, DonorsChoose.org/Newtown, dedicated to supporting the classroom efforts of teachers in Newtown. ...

We would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday. As you celebrate with your family and friends, please remember those who are unable to celebrate with their families especially the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut shootings.

We hope you use your time off to relax and reflect on this year and what we can do to improve next year!

AFT-Maryland offices will be closed from Monday, Dec. 24th through Tuesday, Jan. 1st. We will re-open on the 2nd for regular business hours.

Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! See you in 2013!

Having reflected on the tragedy on Friday, I would like to send my condolences to the community of Newtown, Connecticut and the students, parents, faculty and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Please also keep the family of Cindy Ann Yuille, an AFT member who was killed in the mall shooting in Oregon earlier in the week, in your thoughts. These are awful tragedies and we should all take a minute to be thankful for what we have.

In light of these horrible events, I would encourage all of you take the time to make sure that you have up-to-date emergency information and plans for your