AFT members dive into candidate endorsement process
As the presidential elections inch closer and the field of candidates gets more and more competitive, AFT members are engaging, parsing campaign platforms, asking questions of the candidates, and voicing their priorities as educators, healthcare practitioners and public employees. Thus far, the AFT has hosted eight AFT Votes town halls in eight different locations across the country, giving members the opportunity to meet candidates in person and hear about their stands on education, working families, healthcare and other top-line issues. Also part of the AFT’s robust endorsement process: surveys, debate parties and lots of information on AFTVotes.org.
AFT-Maryland organizer Robin Raynor helped organize a meeting between state workers at Spring Grove Hospital Center and elected officials. State Sen. Bill Ferguson and Del. Brooke Lierman joined union staff and members at the facility to discuss the ongoing challenges state healthcare workers face.
AFT Healthcare-Maryland sent members and staff on a “blitz” to organize employees in bargaining Unit E. The blitz brought committed member activists together with staff from AFT-Maryland, AFT’s national office, and our partners at AFSCME to engage public health care professionals across the state and bring them to the union.
Following the legislative session in Annapolis, state lawmakers have an opportunity to walk the streets in their districts to get an on-the-ground sense of just what is going on. For Delegate Pat Young, that meant a visit to Spring Grove Hospital Center. He sat down for a candid conversation with members of AFT Healthcare-Maryland and AFSCME.
AFT Healthcare-Maryland bargaining unit members ratified the Amendment to the MOU dated January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2020! The count was 222 Yes to accept the amendment, 6 No to reject the amendment, and 2 that could not be counted.