Under Governor O'Malley's proposed budget the Assisted Living Units at Spring Grove Hospital in Catonsville will be closed. AFSCME Maryland members in DHMH lobbied legislators and worked closely with DHMH Secretary, Joshua Sharfstein and as a result no jobs will be lost at Spring Grove. Read more >>>

Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee after Pres. Obama’s State of the Union address Read more >>>

The State of Maryland was going to increase our health costs.
AFSCME Maryland members stopped premium increases.
There are some changes to the PPO, POS and EPO plans.

Join AFSCME Maryland to stop benefit cuts. 
Attacks on our benefits will continue until the Legislature adopts fair revenue measures: make millionaires and corporations pay their fair share.

We're taking the fight to Annapolis.
Contact AFSCME Maryland to learn how to get involved in the fight to protect fair health benefits foor our hard working families, 410.457.1515.  Read more >>>

AFSCME Maryland sets the Baltimore Sun Straight:
In a December 13 letter the the editor, AFSCME Maryland Executive Director Patrick Moran set Baltimore Sun editorial columnist Marta Mossburg straight after she again falsley claimed our nation's economic woes are caused by huge pension payouts to public employees.

Let Marta know what you think:  martamossburg@gmail.com  

AFSCME Maryland's Response:
Once again, Marta Mossburg displays her disturbing obsession with public employees, as she plays the apologist for the wealthiest Marylanders ("In Maryland, your taxes support many of the one percent," Dec. 7). Ms. Mossburg is again muddying the waters about America's increasing income disparity that has been so clearly documented.

Mirroring rhetoric that was bought and paid for by the multimillionaire Koch brothers in Wisconsin, and puppeted by Gov. Scott Walker, Ms. Mossburg has attempted to convince us that public employees are the problem with today's economy. Her unfounded rhetoric reflects the same type of misinformation that is backfiring in Wisconsin and Ohio.

As President Obama said in a speech last week, "In the last few decades, the average income of the top 1 percent has gone up by more than 250 percent, to $1.2 million per year. The typical CEO who used to earn about 30 times more than his or her workers now earns 110 times more. And yet, over the last decade, the incomes of most Americans have actually fallen by about 6 percent."

Ms. Mossburg suggests government workers account for some of the millionaires in Maryland. In fact, the average annual pension for a retired member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, nationally, is $19,000. Census Bureau data indicate that the average non-federal annual retirement benefit for public sector is about $23,000.

Ms. Mossburg suggests that retired police officers are "millionaires" because they received a large lump sum payment when they retire. In fact, that benefit comes from delayed monthly payments which are accumulated while they extend their service to the county. Those benefits are paid for, in large part, by the employees themselves.

Rather than accepting that today's Great Recession was driven by individuals whose greed was only surpassed by their arrogance, Ms. Mossburg points to government spending and pension payouts as the source of all woes. Again, she is wrong. It is clearly documented that the collapse of the economy played the largest role in state and pension deficits. When 80 percent of state revenues come from income taxes and sales taxes, is it really a surprise that there is less money at times of high unemployment? With major corporations paying no income taxes in Maryland and millionaires being the only ones to get a tax cut this year, is this really a surprise?

The bottom line is that the transfer of wealth to the top 1 percent of citizens has had a detrimental effect on our entire country. The tax burden has been shifted to the rest of us while the income has not. The middle class has shrunk. This means fewer people can afford homes, and fewer people can even pursue the American dream. The next generation can no longer expect to do better than their parents. Which is of course, the point. - Patrick Moran, Annapolis

You can let Marta now what you think: martamossburg@gmail.com

AFSCME Maryland members made our voices heard. Members joined a coaltion,  Save Our State and in a series of statewide community conversations AFSCME members have urged legislators to take a balanced approach to solving the state's budget shortfall. Now we take our message to Annapolis, Januray 11th. Join Us!

Make plans to be in Annapolis for your Local Union or Department's lobby night.

6:00PM - Meet at House Office Building.
In lounge, just to the right of front entrance.

6:30PM Briefing
We will receive a briefing on Latest developments.

From 6:30PM to 7:45PM AFSCME Maryland members meet one on one with legislators.

7:45 PM AFSCME Maryland members go to the State House
to greet legislators as they arrive for session.
  Read more >>>

AFSCME Maryland members, their family and friends are invited to attend a rally and march in Washington, DC on October 15th. The rally spotlights Dr. King’s legacy as a civil rights leader, and assesses America’s progress since his death. 
Click this link for more information.

AFSCME Maryland members are winning better pay and benefits through our collective bargaining agreements. Click here for contract highlights for state employees. Click here for full Memorandum of Understanding.

Robert Collins, a Baltimore Corrections Officer was forced by Division of Correction to provide his Facebook password when he reapplied for his former job, and had to watch as his personal page and its postings were perused by an investigator.

After Collins complained DOC suspended the practice during review of job applicant process.

AFSCME members in Wisconsin and Ohio are under attack. Governor Walker in Wisconsin and Governor Kasich in Ohion want to scrap hard won collective bargaining rights.

AFSCME Maryland members are rallying in support of our 
Ohio  and Wisconsin Sisters and Brothers. Join us! 

STOP UNION BUSTING RALLY
Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 12:00pm (noon)
Lawyer's Mall, Legislative Hall, Annapolis.

A clean sweep!
More than 89% of Maryland State employees voting, voted Yes to ratify our new contract. This means we will end furloughs, get a $750.00 bonus, win pay raises, have increased resources to win future fights and much more.
CLICK HERE FOR LEAFLET

Acknowledging state employees have already sacrificed by accepting furloughs and temporary salary reductions, Governor O'Malley announced an EO allowing an early buyout to allow us to retire early and potentially ease the strain of our state budget.

On May 4th, Governor O’Malley signed our Correctional Officers Bill of Rights (SB 887).
Before the ceremony, AFSCME MD thanked Senator Don Munson, Senate sponsor and Delegates Galen Clagett and Steve DeBoy House sponsors our our bill. Governor O’Malley praised the work of Correctional Officers and indicated his firm support for improving our rights.

AFSCME's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State says that during emergency closures of state facilities, employees rights to overtime and use of leave would be protected. This month, it made a difference.

We worked to ensure that we were given our rights as State Employees!

And the Department of Budget and Management listened.

Their determinations on weather related compensation are straight from
AFSCME's Collective Bargaining MOU. Collective Bargaining DOES work.

Here's a summary of determinations for the Storm of February 10-11: 

• Essential employees who worked between 6 AM February 10 --through the end of the day shift of February 11 -- who are eligible for overtime WILL RECEIVE DOUBLE TIME PAY DURING THAT PERIOD.
• Those not eligible for OT will get comp time.
• Employees on emergency release WILL NOT need to use their own leave, if they were scheduled to work. Contractual employees will also be granted pay for these days.
• Those not scheduled to work will continue to use their approved leave/time off.
• Non-essential employees who were requested and/or who volunteered and approved to work, remained at work, or tele-worked on these dates, will receive comp time for any time worked.
• Employees who work compressed work weeks will need to use accrued leave to cover time beyond the 8 hours allowed for emergency leave.

Liberal Leave Days

Employees can use furlough days to cover absences during liberal leave
days.

Your Union at Work.

If you have questions, or for more information, contact AFSCME Maryland:

Baltimore:  410-547-1515

Annapolis: 410-267-7550

Hagerstown: 301-665-2895

Salisbury: 443-944-0056

In the face of massive budget cuts, AFSCME Maryland saved jobs and stopped health care cost increases for Maryland state employees.

Today, the Governor announced major cuts to the state budget in anticipation of tomorrow’s budget submission in the state legislature. What do these cuts mean for AFSCME Maryland members?