AFT Healthcare-Maryland continues to engage state legislators to ensure safety for those working in state run healthcare facilities. We have brought elected officials from both chambers of the state legislature to worksites to talk with members who are on the front lines, engaging residents with various medical and psychiatric needs. Recently the union brought members together with Delegate Mike McKay and representatives from Congressman David Trone’s office about concerns of safety and staffing at the Howard B. Finan Center in Cumberland, Maryland.

In the meeting with Delegate McKay and Trone

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. This meeting continues a series of meetings AFT-Maryland have set up across the state. In advance of the legislative session, the state federation is working to get members face-to-face with elected officials so they can hear what the work experiences in state facilities are like.

Del. Lierman asked

In 2011, the Maryland State Legislature passed a pension reform bill which made changes to retirement benefits to control state costs.  Employees were required to increase their contribution to the pension plan from 5% to 7%, without any increase in monthly allowance in retirement.  The legislation created a lower benefit level for employees hired after July 1, 2012.  The sixteen years an employee must work to qualify for health benefits in retirement was extended for new hires.  The bill also eliminated prescription drug benefits for retirees age 65 or older effective January 1, 2020.  The

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. The blitz was led by Robin Raynor who has extensive experience organizing Unit E employees.

AFT Healthcare-Maryland has reason to be optimistic: following the blitz, member density at one facility is up to 66%. The union has benefitted from enigmatic and charming member

Healthcare professionals at Clifton T. Perkins turned to their union when they wanted changes at their facility. Their union, AFT Healthcare-Maryland, hearing the demand from members, arranged a meeting with state legislative leaders so they could hear from our members just what was going on in their districts. State Senator Guy Guzzone and Delegate Terri Hill met with AFT Healthcare-Maryland members at Perkins Hospital Center. Del. Hill shares quite a bit in common with the members at the facility, as she is also a trained medical professional. Her knowledge led to a robust conversation