News

Why did you join the Maryland Defenders Union?

Welcome to the SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE TAKEOVER of the official newsletter of the Maryland Defenders Union! In this issue:

  • Our plan to win merit status for OPD attorneys in this year's legislative session and how you can help!
  • Updates on the MDU's health-and-safety campaign: vaccines, telework, client protection, and more!
  • And the second official core staff happy hour!

Read on to learn more!

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The results of our first union elections are in, and we now have a complete executive board. Please congratulate our three non-attorney executive board members: Tabitha Chambers, Afrika Kwanna, and Casi O'Neill! We thank everyone who made nominations throughout this process, everyone who accepted those nominations and ran for office, and everyone who voted. Thanks to you all, our first elections were a rousing success.

Our full executive board is now set!

MDU is currently conducting a statewide survey to determine how OPD workers are being notified of potential COVID-19 exposures in offices, courthouses, and juvenile and adult detention facilities.

Please take a moment to tell us what is happening in your office by filling out this brief survey.

Thank you in advance for your time and effort!

The 2021 Maryland legislative session is coming up fast and MDU is gearing up to fight for some big victories in Annapolis... but we can't do that without you! We will be asking for your help throughout the session (which begins January 13) as we lobby for MDU's key piece of legislation, our merit conversion bill, and for budgetary and other priorities. But the first step is to please join us at three crucial upcoming events to get the session started right. 

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You're invited!

Join on Zoom at 7pm on Wednesday!

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

You've probaby heard already that OPD workers will be getting a 2% cost of living adjustment (COLA). What you may not have heard is this:

JOIN THE MOVEMENT!

We are the Maryland Defenders Union, an association of the frontline workers of the Office of the Public Defender whose labor is essential to the agency’s mission of providing outstanding representation to indigent clients. We are strongest when we speak together, work together, and fight together. Are you ready to join us?