Mindy Lawson is a rehabilitation teacher at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center, the state’s forensic psychiatric hospital. While teachers in other facilities across the state telework, she continues to report to the hospital daily. Initially, her job was not deemed essential; however, during a state of emergency, management can make non-essential employees essential and alter their work duties, which changed her job status.
Governor Hogan has ordered movement to an Elevated Level 2 status for all Executive Branch agencies, this means:
Valentine’s Day is a day of love, and MPEC was in the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulations (DLLR) spreading union love. Organizer Aaron Ray tabled at the facility during lunchtime. He engaged workers on a number of issues, but one that drew the most interest was reclassification and back-pay associated with it.
The Maryland Professional Employees Council (MPEC) trained another round of stewards on Thursday, October 17, 2019. The member activists serve the union on a volunteer basis and will be the point persons at their worksites for information their co-workers need to know.
As the presidential elections inch closer and the field of candidates gets more and more competitive, AFT members are engaging, parsing campaign platforms, asking questions of the candidates, and voicing their priorities as educators, healthcare practitioners and public employees. Thus far, the AFT has hosted eight AFT Votes town halls in eight different locations across the country, giving members the opportunity to meet candidates in person and hear about their stands on education, working families, healthcare and other top-line issues. Also part of the AFT’s robust endorsement process: surveys, debate parties and lots of information on AFTVotes.org.
Members made their voices heard regarding the work environment at the Maryland Department of Health. The facility has a wide range of environmental challenges that affect members, but the most recent one to cause a stir was a bedbug outbreak. The state told the union that it has treated the facility for bedbugs, but members want a full, one-time fumigation of the building.
MPEC Officials and staff are working to ensure your physical and mental well-being are taken into consideration as DGS officials work to resolve the problem of bed bugs at the 201 W Preston building.
Members are concerned with the recent work environment challenges at the Maryland Department of Health. Bedbugs were reported to be in the building and members are worried about the many health challenges that presents. In response, MPEC held a union meeting to update members on what we have heard from the state as well as to hear from members what they are experiencing.
Maryland Professional Employees Council (MPEC) is strong at the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). To kick off the month of August, the union hosted a Barbeque Social for members to learn more about the union and enjoy delicious BBQ during their lunch break. Given the great member density at the worksite, turnout was very good.
The power of the MPEC is on the rise. One of the strongest worksites of the union is the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE). MPEC Vice President Andrea Buie is at the work site and has done a yeoman’s work to increase membership and engagement at the location.