News

We welcome March with a warm embrace in part because it is National Women’s History Month. AFT-Maryland is fortunate that we don’t have to look too far to find inspirational and encouraging models of leadership. We are fortunate that one of the greatest titans in the history of the American labor movement, Dr. Lorretta Johnson, is one of our own. Her tenacity has delivered meaningful results for working people across Maryland for generations. She has not been selfish with her wisdom or skill as she worked side by side with Marietta English to deliver real results for public employees. Mrs. English dedicated decades of her life to Baltimore city’s children, and to labor causes in Baltimore and throughout the state. We are grateful to use their examples as a north star to guide our path and it is my personal honor to have learned from these women and continue their legacy of leadership.  Our state federation is grateful that we don’t merely have to rely on the past to find examples of outstanding leadership. Many of our locals are led by powerful women who fight for members and stand in solidarity with other labor siblings. MORE

Black History Month programs have been taking place since Dr. Carter G. Woodson implored Americans to learn and celebrate African-American history back in 1926. The students, faculty, and staff of Garrett Heights Elementary-Middle School (GHEMS) continued in Dr. Woodson’s tradition with a robust celebration involving songs, poems, dances, and skits. The students in the K-8 school, under the guidance of music teacher and member Taniyah Moses, put on a show that the auditorium full of family and friends delightfully enjoyed. Moses found it particularly heartwarming to see the number of families and friends in the audience. She said the presence of so many loved ones in the audience shows that families “really care, they love our children, and they support our children, and that’s what is most important here at GHEMS.” AFT-Maryland’s team attended to support the students and continue the work of building home libraries and improving literacy among students in Baltimore city. As a part of the Reading Opens the World initiative from AFT, the state federation distributed age-appropriate books that would support and echo many of the stories and lessons shared during the Black History Month program. CLICK TO READ > > > MORE

AFT-Maryland stands in solidarity with Michigan State students, faculty and staff, and the entire East Lansing community. Once again our nation is left with the scars of a mass shooting killing three and injuring others at Michigan State University. Sadly, some Michigan State students who survived this tragedy are also survivors of other school shootings. It pains us to have to say other school shootings because some students survived the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, while others are survivors of the tragic school shooting at Oxford High School just outside of Detroit less than two years ago.   CLICK TO READ > > > MORE

Our annual celebration of Black History Month calls on us to not only remember, but revisit. In remembering the past, the heroic and courageous actions by those who came before us, we must also revisit the mindset that led people to make decisions to sacrifice for future generations – sacrifices to bring us all closer to a more perfect union. In revisiting the people of years past, we can find the strategies necessary to continue fighting battles today. One of the most valuable things about Black History Month is that it chronicles the fight for justice.  Click through to read > > > MORE

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It is rare to get 99% of people to do anything these days, unless it's unionization at the Maryland School for the Deaf. Last week, faculty and staff at the state facility voted 159-2 to unionize, authorizing the Maryland School for the Deaf Faculty and Staff Association, Local 4828 (MSDFSA) to serve as the exclusive bargaining agent for faculty and staff at the school. The huge and historic win comes after years of organizing. AFT-Maryland has supported the faculty and staff at the state institution for more than two decades. In the last few years however, efforts to codify collective bargaining have intensified, culminating in a collaborative effort between  AFT National, AFT-Maryland, and faculty and staff at the Maryland School for the Deaf that made up the organizing committee. 

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AFT-Maryland was present for President Joe Biden’s visit to Baltimore. Touting federal investment in the Baltimore-Potomac Tunnel, which will bear another tube that will be named for Frederick Douglass, President Biden addressed union workers, local and state dignitaries, and others. Among those in attendance were AFT-Maryland President Kenya Campbell, Secretary-Treasurer, LaBrina Hopkins, and City Union of Baltimore President Antoinette Ryan-Johnson. Each was there to show their support for this critical investment that would improve rail transit through Baltimore and provide approximately 20,000 union jobs. Click for photos and > > > MORE

The Year of the Rabbit invites us to consider and practice ideals of kindness. These values which this Lunar New Year celebrates guide the work we do as public employees and labor members. As more than a billion people across the world gather with family, friends, and loved ones we also share in the celebration of the Lunar New Year and eagerly turn the pages of the calendar forward from the Year of the Tiger to the Year of the Rabbit. Tragically, this Lunar New Year was marred by violence in Los Angeles. Ten people were killed and another ten were wounded in a shooting that cast a pall over what should be a celebratory occasion. While we do not know the motive of this particular violence, any violence that uniquely affects a particular community is abhorrent and heartbreaking. AFT-Maryland stands firmly against Asian hate. CLICK TO READ >>> MORE

The chill in the air and the year coming to a close tells us that the winter holiday season is upon us. Many of the holidays that we celebrate during the winter season are religious. If you are a person of faith celebrating a particular spiritual holiday, use this time to reflect on the principles of the holiday more than anything else. Overwhelmingly, each of the holidays celebrated at this time of year call on us to reflect upon ourselves and families, our communities, and to commit ourselves to kindness and decency to one another. As in years past, AFT-Maryland partnered with our labor family at the Metro Baltimore AFL-CIO to package and distribute food to labor families in need. Thank you for the generosity of so many of you who... CLICK TO READ > > > MORE