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Maryland’s Unsung Heroes On The Front Line: Maryland Park Rangers

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Maryland Park Rangers are on the frontline serving Marylanders during the COVID-19 pandemic in a unique way. Parks are a holistic approach to the mental and physical challenges we face. Since state parks are essential in contributing to the overall health and well-being of Maryland citizens, there is a substantial impact on Maryland Park Services (MPS). As attendance continues to skyrocket, budget cuts in the department have left them with less contractual help to deal with the crowds. This has led to increased park closures, greater vigilance to manage traffic control, and response to emergencies in the park. Of greater importance and concern is the increased exposure Rangers have to the thousands of daily visitors to state parks.

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[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"68085","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","style":"width: 200px; height: 200px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 3px 2px; float: right;"}}]]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.

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Governor Hogan has ordered movement to an Elevated Level 2 status for all Executive Branch agencies, this means:

All non-emergency essential personnel who can perform their duties from home must do so in order to help contain the spread of the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Employees who telework shall be compensated for their work at their regular rate of pay.
All teleworkers must sign the Interim Pandemic-Associated Teleworking Agreement.
During this period of mandatory telework for non-emergency essential personnel, State operations are NOT shutting down, but public access to State

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. There are a number of state employees at that agency who have recently been or will soon be reclassified and become a part of the MPEC bargaining unit. For some, this will come with pay increases. Those potentially affected were curious and spoke with the organizer about what

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. The day-long training took place at the Maryland Department of the Environment and featured presentations from MPEC board members and staff as well as staff from AFT-Maryland.

The new stewards represent agencies throughout the state. They learned about the contract, negotiations, safe and healthy work standards for their work

Randi Weingarten and NYC teacher Tamara Simpson

Attacks on public education in America by extremists and culture-war peddling politicians have reached new heights (“lows” may be more apt), but they are not new. The difference today is that the attacks are intended not just to undermine public education but to destroy it.

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. Additionally, members are also calling for the state to pay for any costs employees incur for removing bedbugs they brought from work to their personal residences.

The meeting was wide-ranging as members expressed frustration

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. Last Friday morning, MPEC President Jerry Smith requested safe accommodations for employees working at the 201 building. (Click here to view request.)

While the issue of bed bugs is our immediate concern, the overall condition of state center buildings is "SICK". Mice, roaches, signs of asbestos, bad drinking water, and unhealthy air must be addressed. There have been talks of rebuilding state

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. Organizer Felicia Hawkins led the meeting that drew dozens of people during their lunch break.

Members were updated on the discussions between the state and MPEC. The state has said the outbreak has been contained and the rest

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. During the course of the hour, nearly every person in the bargaining unit stopped by to grab a plate or chat with stewards.

Steward Tiwanda Moore was pleased at how the social went. She said, “today went well, I’m hopeful that the attendees will

Maryland’s Unsung Heroes On The Front Line: Maryland Park Rangers

Maryland’s Unsung Heroes On The Front Line: Mindy Lawson

COVID-19 ELEVATED LEVEL 2 STATUS

MPEC Info Table at DLLR

MPEC Steward Training October 2019

In defense of public education

MPEC Member Meeting at State Center

MPEC Response to Working Conditions at State Center

MPEC Health and Safety Meeting

MPEC Member Meeting and BBQ Social at DHCD