This weekend's Steward Training has been cancelled, and will be re-scheduled for a later date.  If you have questions, please contact AFSCME Maryland at 410-547-1515.

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

AFSCME Maryland Director Patrick Moran sent the following message out to AFSCME Maryland members and supporters:

When Governor O’Malley submitted his proposed budget, many state employees breathed a sigh of relief. Rumors had been circulating that the budget would include a 12% cut in pay, or a reduction of the workweek -- with a one day a week pay reduction. Instead, the Governor held fast to the commitment he made to AFSCME at the bargaining table—where we demanded that he not balance the budget on the backs of state workers.

Maryland is facing the largest budget deficit since the Great Depression, two billion dollars, twice as large as last year. In the face of this, AFSCME was able to save hundreds of jobs.

The furlough equation is the same as FY 2010, no changes. This is something we had been told could be much worse. We were able to keep it the same.

AFSCME fought hard for, and saved, all health insurance benefits. There will be no changes. Many still remember that 1,500 state employees had their positions abolished during a comparable budget crisis in the early 1990s. This time, there were 155 vacant positions abolished. Eighty percent of the abolished positions were vacant and only five positions affected AFSCME bargaining unit members. AFSCME found positions for four of the five members—and we are working hard to find a position for the fifth. While abolished positions are bad news, there were fewer than had been predicted for this time around.

Read the full text of the message here.

AFSCME Maryland members met on the State House steps on January 20, the day Governor O'Malley submitted his budget to the legislature-- to call for increased revenues and speak out against potential service cuts, furloughs and layoffs.

The delegation delivered thousands of "Budget-Fight-Back" cards to Governor Martin O'Malley. The cards, signed by thousands of state employees, call on elected officials to consider all options, including raising revenues and closing tax loopholes, before moving forward with any further state budget cuts.

State mental health facilities, juvenile services, correctional facilities, foster care, and other agencies continue to face significant cutbacks, putting some Marylanders at risk. State employees work everyday in chronically understaffed agencies--pushing resources to the breaking point--eliminating and greatly reducing vital services needed for struggling Marylanders.

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?

Join AFSCME Maryland for Lobby Nights in Annapolis. This is your opportunity to speak to your legislators about the issues you care about. Review the enclosed schedule to see when your Local will be in Annapolis (you can print your own pdf copy as well). Call 410-547-1515 for more information.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 16, 2009

Statement of AFSCME Maryland Director Patrick Moran on the Governor's Salary Commission Recommendations for Pay Hikes

(Baltimore-MD) AFSCME Maryland Director Patrick Moran issued the following statement today:

"AFSCME Maryland is shocked and disappointed by the unanimous recommendations made by the Governor's Salary Commission on Tuesday night. Their decision that the governor should receive a $5,000 pay raise in 2013 and 2014--is unfathomable in these tough economic times. The Commission went even further, recommending 3.3 percent and 3.2 percent pay increases for the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the comptroller and the state treasurer.

Clearly, the Commission failed to take into account the fact that our state budget is in deep crisis. State workers are enduring furloughs, layoffs, short staffing and increased caseloads--with no relief in sight. These
front-line workers who serve the people of Maryland, struggle with less and less, while those on the top of the pay scale are now magically being recommended for raises. How will these raises be paid for? Will the legislature raise revenues? Will they cut vital state services, yet again? Yesterday's recommendations seemed to have been made in a vacuum, completely ignoring state employees on the bottom of the pay scale, while rewarding those on the very top. It shouldn't happen on Wall St. and it certainly shouldn't happen in the State of Maryland.

Now, more than ever, it is essential that we remember our priorities in Maryland, and that the people of this state come first. AFSCME Maryland continues to fight for state employees and the people of Maryland. In these tough economic times, our members and the services they provide are our top priority."

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is the largest public sector union with 1.4 million members who provide the vital services that make America happen and advocate for prosperity and opportunity for all working families.



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AFSCME Maryland members from around the state gathered at the National Labor College in Silver Spring December 4th and 5th.  At the conference, members heard from AFSCME President Gerald McEntee and worked together to develop skills and strategies to make our union even stronger.  Members also enjoyed an evening of food and fun, complete with a "green carpet." Take a look:

AFSCME members turned out to the Joint Committee on Pensions meeting on December 8th in Annapolis. It was expected that the committee would take action to avoid a cut in pension benefits due to a negative cost-of-living during the past year. The committee decided instead to wait until January to decide on this issue. Committee members have some expectation that the economy may improve by that time and action will not be necessary.

AFSCME members made many calls to legislators when this issue came to light in October. At that time, legislators were informed that because pension cost of living increases were tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a decrease in the CPI would also mean a decrease in pension benefits.

AFSCME will continue to watch this issue closely and reach out to members and retirees to speak out if necessary. You can learn more about this issue and the hearing from the Maryland Reporter:

"The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the state’s largest public work force union, is already pushing back against the possible pension cut. Union officials brought about 10 members along to observe the hearing.

Sue Esty, assistant director of AFSCME Maryland, said the committee was 'punting to the legislative session,' but she promised a strong reaction from the union if a benefit cut were imminent.

'First of all, when we retire, we’re asked to live off of one third of the income that we had,' said Sylvia Seymour, a retired Department of Human Resources worker and AFSCME member from Baltimore. 'We had to adjust to live with that one third, and to cut that would really be a hardship. It would be a disaster.'"