AFSCME members from across the state traveled to Annapolis on March 15th to stand up for state services and their jobs!

AFSCME Maryland recently completed a review of  contract spending in Maryland. 

Maryland, like nearly every state in the nation, faces continuing fiscal challenges in fiscal year 2011. However, the state can still protect public services from the worst cuts to services and employees proposed so far. Maryland can instead:

• Cut spending on contractual services to save an estimated $200 million from the general fund;
• Eliminate, suspend or apply a 10 percent “haircut” on ineffective or lower-priority tax expenditures to save $45 million or more;
• Extend the Millionaire’s Tax and enact Combined Reporting to generate $270 million; and Redirect $1.5 million in savings from furloughs in nonbudgeted agencies to the General Fund.

You can read the full report by clicking on the pdf link below.

 

AFSCME Maryland Director Patrick Moran recently sent this message to members about new budget proposals in Annapolis.  You can also read an analysis of the proposal from the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute.

"Several weeks ago, I wrote to let you know that some members in the General Assembly were threatening to gut state services and make even more cuts at the expense of state employees and the people of Maryland. They’ve made good on the threats. On February 23rd, on behalf of the House Republican Caucus, Delegates O’Donnell (District 29C – Calvert, St. Mary’s counties) and Shank (District 2B – Washington county) proposed major cuts that included: 

• cutting of 1,000 higher education jobs,
• layoffs for 500 state employees and
• an across the board cut of 1% on all state agencies which could lead to hundreds more layoffs.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, Senators Pipkin (District 36 – Kent, Queen Anne, Cecil and Caroline counties) and Brinkley (District 4 – Frederick, Carroll counties) offered their own plan, SB 1004, which would also eliminate 500 jobs and increase your pension contribution from 5% to 7%."

Continue reading Patrick's message.

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.

For more information, contact AFSCME in Annapolis at(410) 267-7550

 

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?

AFSCME Maryland PEOPLE members are invited to attend the 2009 PEOPLE conference. Register today!

AFSCME Maryland members traveled to Washington, DC to show support for health care reform. Thousands of AFSCME members from around the country attended a rally to tell Congress to "make health care happen"! Take a look:

AFSCME Maryland members were on the move last week, fighting for health care on Capitol Hill. They joined thousands of working men and women to tell Congress that we need health care reform now!

AFSCME leaders join President McEntee and Special Assistant Lee Saunders as Governor O’Malley, President Miller and Speaker Busch sign the Fair Share Act into law. The bill will mean that state employees can join other organized workplaces in having all employees share in the benefits and the costs associated with collective bargaining.

The 2009 legislative session in Annapolis ended last week and the work of AFSCME Maryland members paid off.  Together, we were able to win on some important issues.

The Fair Share Bill SB 264 was passed by Maryland lawmakers during the final night of the 2009 legislative session. This is an extremely important piece of legislation that, when signed into law and approved by state workers, will give us the strong united voice we need during these extremely tough times. To achieve this victory, AFSCME MD members worked long hard hours in Annapolis, lobbying lawmakers, writing letters, and making phone calls. That hard work has paid off. We did it!

Legislative Staff Recommended a 1% State Employee Pay Cut… We said No Way!

AFSCME members were in Annapolis yesterday to testify in front the Appropriations Committee in the House of Delegates. The members were advocating for the passage of the Fair Share Act, legislation that will make the collective bargaining process more democratic. 

Fair Share means:

• Choice for state Employees
• United Employee Voice
• Fair and Democratic
• More Effective Collective Bargaining
• Every Employee Has a Vote

 

AFSCME members testified in Annapolis to help pass Fair Share - you can help by getting in touch with your legislator today.  Click here to help pass Fair Share.

Read more about what AFSCME members said about Fair Share in Annapolis yesterday:

 

AFSCME STOPPED health insurance benefit cuts!

Our AFSCME bargaining team said NO when the administration proposed to cut our health care benefits and raise costs to state & higher education employees.

We saved employees an average of $1000 a year in proposed, out-of-pocket expenses proposed by the State. We said NO!

 

No increase in doctor visit co-pays

No increase in prescription co-pays

No decrease in plan coverage

No changes in the health insurance plan design

 

Congratulations to the AFSCME bargaining team for winning big for everyone!!!

Round 2: The Fight in the General Assembly Has Begun! Join Us NOW!  Click here to learn more!

The full 2010 budget totals $31.6 billion. About half the budget- $14.4 billion - is General Funds. The rest is Federal and Special Funds.  The overall FY 2010 budget increases spending by 2.5% over the current fiscal year. However, the General Fund budget – which relies largely on income and sales taxes - has a net reduction of 1.3%.  This shrunken general fund budget, which reflects the continuing downturn in the economy, is actually below the limit set by the General Assembly’s Spending Affordability Committee.  For the full article click here.

On December 9th, MCEA wrote Governor O’Malley to say that state employees should be forced to take 5 MORE FURLOUGH DAYS. MCEA calls it a “Win-Win” situation. Who wins? Not state employees!

AFSCME stood up for our co-workers. AFSCME fought for, andwon, fewer furlough days.

Who wants to cut state employee pay? MCEA!

Download your flyer here on the MCEA proposal to cut your pay so you can distribute it to your co-workers!

Click here to view the MCEA letter.

Citing a shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars for the state, the O'Malley administration imposed furloughs on Maryland's state employees. The plan calls for the state to close most operations on the days after Christmas and New Years. The cost of these days will be spread out in paychecks during the rest of the fiscal year.

In addition, to these days, employees earning more from $40,000 to $59,999 per year will take an additional two days without pay and those earning more than $60,000 will take an additional three days with out pay - for a total of 5 days.

Employees who work in 24 hour facilities in shift jobs will be exempt. In addition, any employees called in to work due to an emergency during the holiday close-downs will work and alternative furlough day.

We met with the Governor's representatives in good faith and worked hard to fight these furloughs. We made it very clear that AFSCME MD is opposed to all furloughs. When we suspected furloughs were inevitable, we tried to exempt lower paid employees and to create a more progressive range of furloughs. In fact, through the collective bargaining process, we were able to reverse the Governor's initial effort to impose FIVE FURLOUGH DAYS on ALL employees. But when we could not reach an agreement-- the Governor chose to act.

AFSCME MD continues to caution the governor’s office that furloughs will hamper the ability of state employees to deliver services. State employees who provide services such as monitoring ex-offenders, protecting children from abuse, and ensuring our roads are clear every day – are in danger of not being there when they are needed most.

AFSCME MD stands firm in our commitment to protecting the quality of life in Maryland and we will continue negotiations with the administration regarding the details of future fiscal issues.

AFSCME MD continues to negotiate with higher education institutions regarding their specific furlough plans.

For more information about the state furlough plan go to: www.dbm.maryland.gov.

AFSCME Maryland's special fall newsletter has the information you need when you go to the voting booth.