Union representing over 20,000 state employees holding statewide tour to draw attention to critical staffing shortages and outdated state facilities
Salisbury, MD – On Tuesday, November 12, AFSCME Maryland Council 3 members from various state agencies hosted another press conference to call attention to the ongoing neglect of essential state services and facilities. Today’s press conference specifically focused on state facilities on the Eastern Shore and the staffing and resource crisis facing these facilities.
After years of disinvestment during former Governor Larry Hogan’s administration, Maryland now faces dangerously low staffing levels and skyrocketing vacancy rates within its state facilities, impossible workloads and caseloads, and nearly $1 billion in deferred maintenance for these facilities left over from this past administration. These facilities include our state hospitals, correctional facilities, local health departments, roads and highways, and more.
Union members were joined by various labor and community allies, including the Lower Shore Progressive Caucus, Wicomico County Councilman Josh Hastings, a representative from Delegate Sheree Sample- Hughes' office, and members from other unions, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Communications Workers of America.
This press conference is part of a statewide tour the union is doing to call attention to dangerously low levels of staffing and unsafe facilities throughout Maryland. October’s press conference was held in Hagerstown, and the December stop of the tour is tentatively planned for Baltimore City.
Quotes from AFSCME Maryland Council 3 Members:
“Our hospital is vitally important to our community, and if we just invested in our hospital and the staff, we could ensure more patients can get the long-term and specialized care they might need. We have entire units that we are not utilizing. We have floors where we’re only housing 8 patients but have space to house 24 – if only we had the resources and staff to do so,” said Christine Duffy, President of AFSCME Local 1081, representing state employees on the Lower Eastern Shore and a Geriatric Nursing Assistant at Deer’s Head Hospital Center.
“After last week’s election results, we are looking to our state leaders more than ever to keep our local health departments going. We play a vital role in our communities, but we need to have enough staff to keep our programs and services going and to be able to serve the community,” said Anissa Pierce-Sessoms, Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME Local 1081 and a Fiscal Accounts Clerk at the Worcester County Health Department.
“These days, we never have enough staff, and the staff that we do have are constantly faced with stressful workloads. It’s no wonder we have young folks coming in and then immediately leaving when they see the low pay given how much stress we take on. Last month, it was reported in the news that there are MVA administrators who have received over $100,000 in raises, yet there are MVA employees making less than $40,000. Make it make sense,” said Wonderful Page-Mcglown, Vice President of AFSCME Local 3655, representing Motor Vehicle Administration employees across the state, and a Customer Service Agent at the Beltsville MVA.
“Sometimes it’s just two of us staffing an entire unit. That means we have no time to have those one-on-one conversations with our patients and be familiar with what they need and be vigilant and observant. We had a patient snatch the keys from a direct care assistant and make it all the way to the parking lot because we don’t have enough security staff. We were on the news because another patient did manage to escape after the windows were shot out,” said Ikeia Cornish, President of AFSCME Local 770, representing state employees on the Upper Eastern Shore, and a Direct Care Assistant at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center.
“Our state leaders need to listen to those of us on the front lines. We are in a staffing crisis that is putting both staff and incarcerated individuals in danger and jeopardizing our ability to give these individuals the resources they need for a second chance,” said Rownite Stevens, President of AFSCME Local 3478, representing employees at the Eastern Correctional Institute, and a Correctional Officer Sergeant.
“Since April 21 alone, there have been 7 serious staff assaults, 3 of which were officers severely stabbed at North Branch Correctional Facility. We have asked for change. We have asked for a safe working environment. But the department has failed us and those who are housed in our facilities every time. How many more AFSCME members have to be injured before our state leaders take understaffing and our working conditions seriously?” said Tony Sines, President of AFSCME Local 898, representing employees at the North Branch and Western Maryland correctional facilities.
“We NEED a comprehensive staffing plan with a timeline and commitment to recruit, hire, and retain qualified staff for each agency. We NEED an assessment and plan to address the maintenance backlog for state facilities. We NEED a comprehensive revenue plan that will shore up our state services and protect our state economy under a Trump presidency. And while we are in the midst of bargaining our raises and compensation for the next year, we NEED a FAIR wage proposal that actually respects the essential work that state employees do. Now is NOT the time for more paper and hollow plans that lack follow through. We need action from our state leaders,” said Patrick Moran, President of AFSCME Maryland Council 3.
