WHAT'S NEW WITH MDU #2

Welcome to the second edition of the official newsletter of the Maryland Defenders Union! In this issue:

  • AFSCME wins the fight for a cost of living increase for Maryland employees!
  • OPD workers from around the state come together for the first Core Staff general meeting!
  • We get ready for our inaugural leadership elections!
  • We kick off the new year with an open meeting/remote party on January 6!
  • And the MDU gives back, with a gift drive for children in custody and a donation guide for families in need!

Read on for details!

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AFSCME WINS A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL STATE EMPLOYEES

Earlier this year, Governor Hogan tried to unilaterally push through layoffs, impose pay cuts, and take back previously promised cost-of-living increases, saying that the COVID pandemic's impact on the state budget forced his hand. While some unions took Hogan's word for it and agreed to his slashes, AFSCME fought back. And this week, AFSCME won, ensuring that the two percent cost-of-living increase will go into effect for all state employees, including OPD workers, on January 1! You can read the Baltimore Sun's coverage of AFSCME's victory here.

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CORE STAFFERS MEET ABOUT PAY, COMMUNICATION, ADVANCEMENT, AND MORE

Last Monday, over 40 core staffers met on Zoom to discuss some of the specific issues they face at OPD – low pay forcing them to work second jobs, poor communication, the lack of training opportunities and career advancement, and more – and why joining the MDU is the right way to fight back. "This can't just be a union of attorneys," said Kalia Woods, an administrative aide in Upper Marlboro. "We have to advocate for ourselves."

If you have a question for our Core Staff Committee, email [email protected] and someone will respond as soon as possible. And be on the lookout for the invite to the next core staff meeting in January!

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THE MARYLAND DEFENDERS UNION'S FIRST LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS

First, in September, the MDU was officially chartered as Local 423 of AFSCME! Next, we wrote ourselves a constitution that membership overwhelmingly voted to adopt! Now, finally, we get to elect the leadership of our local!

After an open nomination process, eight of eleven positions were filled by acclamation (i.e., only one person accepted a nomination): 

  • President: Marci Tarrant Johnson (attorney, Baltimore City)
  • Vice-President, Non-Attorney: Kalia Woods (core staffer, Prince George's County)
  • Vice-President, Attorney: Dyan Owens (attorney, Baltimore City)
  • Recording Secretary: Henry Druschel (attorney, Charles County)
  • Secretary-Treasurer: Cheryl Hughes-Redd (core staffer, Forensics Division)
  • Executive Board, Attorney: Cindy Frezzo (attorney, Charles County)
  • Executive Board, Attorney: Stephanie Joseph (attorney, Montgomery County)
  • Executive Board, Attorney: Isabel Lipman (attorney, Baltimore City)

Additionally, there are four candidates for the three Executive Board, Non-Attorney positions:

  • Tabitha Chambers (core staffer, Appellate Division)
  • Afrika Kwanna (core staffer, Anne Arundel County)
  • Casi O'Neill (social worker, Baltimore City)
  • Darlene Preston (core staffer, Wicomico County)

Congratulations to all the nominees! Ballots have been mailed out to every MDU member and are due back by January 12th. Read on to the next section to learn how you can get to know the nominees a little better!

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KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH THE MDU ON JANUARY 6TH

On Wednesday, January 6, join your MDU siblings for an open meeting/remote party! We'll handle some business – each of the nominees for union leadership will introduce themselves and we'll discuss some of MDU's plans for the upcoming year – but mostly we'll celebrate the beginning of 2021 (and the end of 2020) with games and activities! Watch for the invite, coming soon!

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GIVE BACK WITH THE MDU GIFT DRIVE AND DONATION GUIDE

MDU wants to help everyone have a joyful holiday season! We're running a gift drive for children who are incarcerated in Maryland; you can fulfill a suggested donation on this wishlist or check out this post for other evergreen gift ideas! Thanks to Stephanie Joseph for coordinating the donations and deliveries, and thanks to everyone who has pitched in so far!

Just a small portion of the gifts we've already received and delivered!

We've also put together a holiday donation guide highlighting community organizations that serve residents in every corner of Maryland and could really use your support this holiday season. Give what you can, access what you need, and have a wonderful holiday season!