We Make Maryland Happen!
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- Location:
- Baltimore, MD, 21230
- Phone:
- 410-547-1515 or 800-492-1996
- Mon - Fri:
- 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
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2009 Leadership ConferenceCreated about 5 months ago
AFSCME Maryland Local 1772 members endorsed Senator Don Munson in Republican Primary. The local represents over 1,500 correctional officers at MCI-H, RCI, and MCTC near Hagerstown, Maryland. Citing Senator Munson's strong support for the Correctional Officer's Bill of Rights (COBOR) and voting for the budget (which funds pay and benef...its) members wasily endorsed Munson. "Munson made COBOR happen and his opponent offered an amendment on the last day of the session which if passed would have killed COBOR. There is only one choice for state senator and that is Don Munson," said Local President, Rick Thomas.
AFSCME Maryland AFSCME members from across Maryland traveled to Annapolis throughout the legislative session to talk to lawmakers about the important issues facing state employees and the Marylanders who rely on state services.
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AFSCME Maryland
SB 887 (you can read the full text of the bill by clicking the attached link) passed the House unanimously on the final day of session, setting the stage for final approval by the Governor. The bill, which would take effect in October, is modeled after the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights, and applies many of th...e same principles to the disciplinary procedures to the State of Maryland’s Division of Corrections. The Bill of Rights addresses three basic points:
• First, the bill provides better due process rights when a Correctional Officer is suspected of a wrong-doing.
• Second, the bill creates the option of a separate appeal procedure using a Correctional Officer Hearing Board for disciplinary actions of 10 days or greater, terminations, and demotions.
• Third, the bill provides that a Correctional Officer is to be considered innocent until proven guilty. This means that a CO will be either reassigned or in a leave with pay status pending the final decision.
mlis.state.md.us
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 ...
AFSCME Maryland 0-11.
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 ...
AFSCME Maryland
Patrick Moran sent this message to AFSCME Maryland members and supporters on the Maryland budget and how it will affect members:
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 reductio...n 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.
The budget process is not over. The General Assembly will now make their recommendations. Promises are already being made in the halls of Annapolis about significant cuts. Some legislators are grumbling that the governor and has NOT CUT ENOUGH from state employees:
"We’ve got to...do the spending reductions that we need to do..." -- House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell (R-Dist. 29C). The Gazette, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010
You can help prevent further cuts. As in past years, each state agency will have its own budget hearing in both the House Appropriations and Senate Budget and Tax committees. These hearings are an important time for state employees to speak out. Come to Annapolis to let legislators know about the important services you provide and how more cuts could hurt you and those in need.
A schedule of major budget hearings is posted, you can view it on our website. Please mark your calendar. If you can attend, please make sure to confirm times before you leave to make sure there have not been any changes in the schedule.
You can confirm by calling the Department of Legislative Services at:
From the Baltimore Area: 410-946-5400
From the Washington Area: 301-970-5400
Statewide: 1-800-492-7122
If you are interested in testifying at a budget hearing, contact AFSCME’s Legislative office at (410) 267-7550. Your participation can mean the difference between a cut and no cut, so mark your calendars now!
In solidarity,
Patrick Moran
Director
AFSCME Maryland
afscmemd.org
AFSCME Maryland A report on the state budget, why it's a mess, and solutions to fill the budget hole.
Neil Bergsman of the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute prepared an overview of the state's economic situation for 2009 and beyond. He presented his his findings at the AFSCME Maryland 2009 PEOPLE Conference. His analysis looked at the following questions that state employees have:
This is breaking news on Maryland’s pension fund. We need your help today to keep pension benefits from being cut. Most pension and retirement plans for state employees are tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) so that as prices rose, so did the pension benefit. ...
AFSCME Maryland
The Fight To Keep Upper Shore Open Continues:
"It goes without saying that the State is facing tough economic times, but closing the Upper Shore Mental Health Center is penny-wise and pound-foolish.The Board of Public Works’ decision to close the Upper Shore Mental Health Center is estimated to save $2.7 million this ye...ar and $7 million annually thereafter by eliminating 90 staff positions. But these numbers fail to consider the full fiscal impact on our state’s health system."
AFSCME Maryland Attend the AFSCME Maryland 2009 Leadership Conference December 4th and 5th at the National Labor College in Silver Spring. For more information and to sign up, contact us at 410-547-1515.
Dear Local Leaders:Due to extenuating circumstances the dates for the Annual Leadership Conference have changed. Originally it was scheduled for November 6-7, 2009, but has been rescheduled to December 4-5, 2009. ...
BOSTON — In Massachusetts, freefalling tax revenue will mean no more dental and hospice care for legal immigrants. Maryland is closing a mental health center. And Illinois has $2.9 billion in unpaid bills.
ANNAPOLIS Gov. Martin O'Malley held firm Thursday against dipping into the state's "rainy day fund" or slashing K-12 education, even as the state employees union turned up the pressure on him to make significant steps toward budget reform.
