News

2016 Legislative Issues

The 2016 Maryland State Legislative Session is full of challenges for public employees. Help us move our agenda for working families as we call for:

better funding for Baltimore City Public Schools,
safe work and learning environments for all state workers, educational professionals, and students,
due process rights for Maryland School for the Deaf teachers,
eliminating bullying from management in the workplace,
and much more!

Read about our positions on the issues by clicking the following links:

Legislative Reception in Annapolis

Delegates and State Senators in Annapolis made their way to the Maryland Inn Monday night for an AFT-Maryland legislative reception. It was well attended by labor leaders and elected officials alike. The staff and service at the Maryland Inn was superb as politicians got a chance to meet with important figures in Baltimore and ostensibly Maryland's labor movement.

City Council Forum, Districts 2, 3, 12, and 13

As the race for elected office in Baltimore City continues, AFT-Maryland hosted a candidate forum for those running for City Council in Districts 2, 3, 12, and 13. Among those in attendance were Brandon Scott, Tony Chrisitan, Marques Dent, Jermaine Jones, Ryan Dorsey, George Van Hook, Jason Pyeron, Gary Crum, Shannon Sneed, and George Johnson.

AFTMD Members Question Mayoral Candidates

The AFT-Maryland welcomed eight candidates (Elizabeth Embry, Calvin Young, Sheila Dixon, David Warnock, Cindy Walsh, Nick Mosby, Carl Stokes, and Catherine Pugh) for mayor of Baltimore to a standing room only members forum, where they had an opportunity to address members' concerns, including education spending, school board appointment, collective bargaining for city employees, and the sale of public utilities.

Baltimore City Council Candidate Forums

AFT-Maryland will interview candidates who want to represent your district in the Baltimore City Council. Members of AFT-Maryland affiliated local unions are invited to attend, to ensure the candidates know our members' priorities.

Help us decide who to support for the AFL-CIO Endorsement.

Come to Lobby Night in Annapolis Feb 22nd

Last year, Governor Hogan put our members on high alert. He cut funding to Baltimore City Public Schools, demanded cutting each state agency by 2% and attempted to remove collective bargaining rights from teachers and staff at public charters schools.

Because of YOUR efforts in Annapolis last year, we were able to keep the 2% for state and government workers, and protect collective bargaining rights teachers and staff at public charter schools. JOIN US again this year!

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Step Increase, Job Cuts for State Employees

The governor's $42 billion Maryland State spending budget has been unveiled, and it includes a step increase for State Employees without the cuts to overtime or sick leave rights that he originally proposed. This is a big win for union members, who have fought hard for this increase.

Join AFT-Maryland for Lobby Night in Annapolis

*** RESCHEDULED ***

Due to the blizzard and hazardous road conditions, the Lobby Night scheduled for Mon. Jan. 25th has been rescheduled for Mon. Feb. 22nd.
We hope you'll join us then!

Baltimore County 911 call center employees protested a threat of major scheduling changes on Monday night outside county headquarters in Towson.

Response to SUN article on 911 Call Center employees

The issues raised in a recent Baltimore Sun article involving citizens receiving busy signals and facing dropped calls are occurring more frequently now than previously. This Union has pointed out in numerous meetings with the current management that the problem is exacerbated, in large part, by continued understaffing and high employee turnover due to a stressful and heavy workload, coupled with management’s indifference. The City Union of Baltimore is in full support of the efforts by the Baltimore City Council to return the 911 operators and emergency dispatchers to the authority of the Baltimore Police Department.

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