On Friday, January 22, 2016 Baltimore City experienced an unprecedented snow storm. Tamia Drayton, Office Service Clerk, employed by the Department of Assessments and Taxations (SDAT) braved the storm and reported to work. The Department of Budget and Management in anticipation of the storm issued a notice allowing the use of Administrative Leave from 1:00 P.M. until the close of their shift for non-essential employees. At 10:54 A.M. the Director of Personnel of SDAT issued an Agency wide e-mail which stated "For employees who chose to use liberal leave today, please code your time sheets with

Come join with your sisters and brothers in labor: MONDAY, March 21st at 6:00 p.m. for UNION NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS at Lawyer's Mall.

After the mass labor rally, we will lobby our legislators on important issues facing public employees in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and across the State of Maryland.

Some of our issues include:

• Fighting against the privatization of vital state and city services
• Lobbying legislators to pressure Gov. Hogan to stop the abolishment of PINs
• Expanding the Community School Strategy in Maryland
• Restoring $24 million cut to Baltimore City Schools
• Ending workplace bullying

This is to morn our sorrow of a very strong member of MCEA Chapter 45, who is no longer with us.. From Chapter 45 - the Chapter that Rocks!

We love you and mourn the loss of a great sister and member of MCEA. These words are but a few from Chapter 45. Phyliss was a fighter who believed in fighting for what was right and the protection of all state employees. She made every chapter meeting, and never missed MCEA Statewide or MCEA conventions. These words are from your sisters and brothers of Chapter 45.

It's hard to see tomorrow when someone you love is gone. 
And it's harder still to realize that

Registered Nurses (RNs) employed by Springfield State Hospital Center were denied the use of paid leave on the weekend of January 22, 2016 due to their essential employee status. The employees leave status was charged to code 86, unpaid, unexcused absence. On February 5, 2016 the employees contacted their Labor Relations Specialist, Michael Keeney for guidance and assistance. Mr. Keeney filed instant grievances on behalf of the RNs to ensure that their time frames were protected.

Mr. Keeney argued that although the employees were deemed as essential and as such are required to report to duty

Over a hundred members of the unions that make up AFT-Maryland took to Annapolis to engage their elected representatives. Lobby Night as it is called gave members and activists an opportunity to extend their voices directly to the people that they elected. Nearly all of the locals that make up AFT-Maryland were represented and union members did not hesitate to ask Delegates and State Senators tough questions. 

 

Members were there to press elected officials on state budget priorities, school vouchers, education assessments, community schools, due process for state employees at the Maryland

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:

• State Budget
• Education Assessments
• Community Schools
• School for the Deaf
• Workplace Bullying
• Partially Elected