The State of Maryland is currently facing a more than $1 Billion dollar deficit because Maryland is projecting to collect far less taxes due to the COVID19 pandemic. This is a result of everything shutting down here and all over the world. The Governor wants to bargain in order to close the budget deficit by cutting state employees pay and benefits before the new fiscal year start on July 1st. DBM has continued to attempt to enforce arbitrary timelines and refuse to release members of our bargaining team to participate in these sessions. However, there is no law that says we have to bargain now and our current contract is in effect through the end of 2020. There is no legal past practice or written law requiring we negotiate any kind of agreement before July 1st.