Dear Marylanders,

The water we drink, the roads we drive on, the schools our children go to, the healthcare we depend on, and more — our public services make our daily lives possible and keep our communities running.

But who makes these public services possible? It’s us — the thousands of state employees (along with those who work for our cities, counties, and schools) that make Maryland a state so many of us love to call home.

Our union, AFSCME Maryland, represents the very people who make our public services happen. We represent over 55,000 public service workers, including over 25,000 state employees.

When you’re pulled over on the side of the highway because you need help with your car, it’s AFSCME members who are there for you. When you need access to food, shelter, healthcare, and other necessities, it’s AFSCME members who connect you to vital services and programs. When you take an elevator or enter a building, it’s AFSCME members who inspect our infrastructure and ensure it’s safe. And when we need a second chance, it’s AFSCME members who staff every part of the justice system.

But over the years, it's become harder and harder to be a state employee. What used to be seen as a stable job and solid career is no more. State jobs used to be an opportunity to serve our communities while earning a fair wage, good healthcare benefits, and a secure retirement. But these days, the work is dangerous, the workloads are impossible, and the pay lags behind.

It’s not just state employees who are feeling left behind. We hear Marylanders say that the lines are too long to access the state services they need. We see headline after headline that detail the consequences — sometimes deadly — when state agencies aren’t meeting their missions. And each and every one of us feels the frustration when the quality of our state services is no longer where it should be.

It's no accident how we got here. For years, our state leaders have failed to prioritize our state services, letting pay lag behind and working conditions deteriorate. And now, Maryland is at a point where we can no longer afford to ignore the crisis facing our state services.

As a state, we have a choice. We can choose to do something about the state of our state services. We can choose to leave no one behind, including the state employees who keep our communities safe, our roads and neighborhoods clean, and our residents healthy. We can choose to fund our state services and support a strong state workforce. And we can ensure everyone contributes their fair share to raise the revenue neededso that our communities have the very best public services that Marylanders deserve.

For years, our union has been sounding the alarm. But the fact of the matter is that our union can’t do it alone. We need you — our fellow Marylanders — to join us in this fight to make our state services a top priority.

The purpose of this report is to shed light on the issues facing Maryland’s state employees and how we can improve state jobs for the better. Whether you’re a concerned Marylander, an elected official, or even a fellow state employee, we hope you’ll join us in advocating for better state jobs and, in turn, strong state services.

Thank you for reading our first State of Our State Services Report.

In solidarity, 
The AFSCME Maryland Bargaining Team