AFSCME’s Campaign to Reject "draconian” Cuts to Public Services Leads to Victory
The vote is done AND WE WON! As of late last night, under heavy pressure from AFSCME Maryland and our allies, the Governor pulled all personnel items from his proposals today. Both Comptroller Franchot and State Treasurer Kopp spoke out against the cuts and their intention to vote NO.
Here are the cuts Hogan wanted:
- Elimination of 5,000 filled and vacant positions
- 5% permanent salary reduction for all state employees
- Increase cost of employee healthcare contributions
- Cancel all scheduled ASR and COLA increases
- Change definition of work time to make it harder to get overtime
YOU made it happen. Through thousands of phone calls, emails and texts messages. Pressure. Through many miles of caravans. Read what WUSA9, the Baltimore Sun , WBAL, WMAR and WBFF had to say about our caravan yesterday. Perhaps most importantly, we went to the community and explained to them how state services are important during this crisis. And they showed up for us. In this fight it wasn’t just Council 3 versus Larry Hogan. It was the people of Maryland versus Larry Hogan. And the people won.
This fight is far from over. In the BPW meeting Governor Hogan ranted about wanting to layoff 3000+ positions. We need to continue forward, to make sure we are compensated fairly, treated with respect, and to make sure that we are provided with safe working conditions.
Today, we are reaching out to the Hogan Administration. We would like to work with them collaboratively, along with federal representatives, to chart a strategy going forward. There will be more updates soon. Until then, we will continue building internally to prepare for the fight ahead and developing a coalition of allies from across the State to fight with us for a better Maryland.
Below you can read a number of the Letters of Support sent in by our allies to urge Comptroller Franchot, State Treasurer Kopp and Governor Hogan to oppose these cuts.
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin
Lower Shore Progressive Caucus which was covered in WMDT 47. Read the article here: https://www.wmdt.com/2020/06/coalition-calls-on-governor-larry-hogan-to-reconsider-budget-cuts/
Coalition of Community Organizations including SEIU 1199, Baltimore Women United, Food and Water Action, CASA de Maryland, Jews United for Justice, Maryland Center on Economic Policy, Sierra Club, NAACP Maryland State Conference
Many have reached out with specific questions about scheduled Annual Salary Reviews and Cost of Living Adjustments.
As many of you know, you would not see this increase until the first pay period with time worked during the new fiscal year (after July 1st) which would be July 22nd.
At the Board of Public Works meeting today, July 1st, no changes were made to the currently scheduled increases. However, Governor Hogan will have to act by the July 15th BPW meeting to fund these increases.
