After a hard-fought campaign, Governor Larry Hogan has announced he will release the $68 million set aside to maintain the 2 percent salary increase—one that was negotiated and finalized last year by public employee unions and the state—for state employees.
AFT Healthcare-MD Local #5197 has filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint with the Maryland Public Employee Labor Relations Board over the State's implementation of the Registered Nurse signing bonus and retention bonus that was negotiated between the Union and the State in the 2014-2015 MOU (collective bargaining agreement).
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Senate voted unanimously Thursday for the state’s $40 billion budget.
For the full article, visit The Washington Post. Excerpts follow:
AFT-Maryland joins the Metropolitan Baltimore Council AFL-CIO for their annual Night in Annapolis: Monday, March 23, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.
This event provides an excellent opportunity for labor and elected officials to exchange ideas. We need you, your co-union members, family, and friends to make this a success. Be sure to wear your union jackets, shirts, and hats.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Lawyer's Mall
College Avenue at Rowe Boulevard
The Senate and House of Delegates are in the most critical stages in determining the state’s operating budget. This is our last chance to make our voice heard to save education in Baltimore City! And this is our last chance to make our voice heard to fight against Governor Hogan’s 2% pay cut to public employees!
The VSP offered today by Department of Budget and Management benefits neither the employee nor the State. (Sun: "State workers offered $15k in voluntary separation program") It is instead a reward for political appointees who will be leaving State government.
It's one thing to work to get officials elected; it's another to lobby them for action. In an effort to lobby their elected representatives, AFT-Maryland took to Annapolis on February 9th to let State Delegates and Senators know just how they felt about a number of issues.
Debra Perry, President of AFT Healthcare-Maryland and Executive Director Michael McNally met February 4th with Governor Hogan’s representative Cindy Kollner, Executive Director of Department of Budget and Management to begin negotiations over proposals that would help the Governor balance the budget and still honor the agreements in the existing MOU executed between the Union and the O’Malley administration before they left office.
Are state workers not Maryland families? Governor Hogan said Maryland families have been tightening their belts, but his new budget makes state workers tighten them even more. Under the Governor's budget, well deserved and long overdue Cost of Living increases will be taken back by the State.
Prior to the inauguration of Governor Hogan, MPEC and AFT Healthcare-MD sent letters of congratulations to then Governor-elect Larry Hogan and asked that he meet with the two Unions to discuss working together in a collaborative process to meet the interests of the employees they represent while at the same time meeting the interests of his administration when they are able to, without making it more difficult for the employees to provide excellent services to the public.