We know that AFT members are heroes who are reclaiming the promise every day, and we want to hear about them!

Do you know an AFT member who has made a difference in his or her workplace? Someone who has had a profound and positive impact on the community? Someone whose extraordinary contribution in his or her field of work, or to the lives of others, has been heroic?

Please nominate your Everyday Hero by filling out a brief form by Jan. 31, 2014, at www.aft.org/everydayheroes, and you will be entered to win a $250 gift card.

We will identify semifinalists from each of our constituencies: 

Nancy Kopp, Maryland State Treasurer, criticized O'Malley's plan to cut $100 million from the pension fund to balance the budget, saying it would hurt the fund's credit rating. Read more at the Maryland Reporter.

2/3/14 Todd Reynolds, Political Action Coordinator

Metropolitan Baltimore Council (AFL-CIO Unions) is assisting union families by giving out Holiday Baskets to Union Members who are suffering financial hardship.  The baskets  include a Giant gift certificate for a ham or a turkey and other food.  Members with children  will also receive a gift for each child from newborn to 16 years of age.

Members interested MUST submit their request for consideration to the BCFPE Holiday Basket Coordinator at jripley@aft-maryland.org NO LATER THAN December 2, 2014. 

Please make sure to provide the following information along with your request in order to

Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees (BCFPE) held a contract ratification vote on Monday, Oct. 21, 2013, and the contract was ratified by a vote of 98%.

BCFPE President, John Ripley, is pleased that employees will be receiving a 3% bonus in November 2014 and a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment on July 1, 2015.

It is also noteworthy that contract extensions from 2010 through 2016 have guarenteed employees their scheduled step/longevity pay increases. This equates to 95% of our employees having seen at least one scheduled step/longevity pay increase, and some have seen several scheduled step