On Friday, June 23, MPEC members stood up at the Rally for Respect against Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation's (SDAT) illegal sick leave policy. We will not stand idle while sick leave, and thus families, are attacked.

"There is nothing in the policy to negotiate. The Maryland Professional Employees Council is here to protect the rights of employees. The sick leave policy implemented by the Department of Assessments and Taxation demonstrates the agency’s fundamental misunderstanding and misapplication of both state and federal law, and demonstrates a

We are calling out the State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT) for failing to recognize the dignity and respect of the workers of the State of Maryland by trying to side-step the law.

On June 7, 2017, SDAT implemented an illegal sick leave policy that required employees to disclose private medical information to justify the use of earned sick leave.

The call-in policy ran counter to state and federal law and was a direct violation of our contract. Under the MOU Article 10 Section 3, the employer shall not ask for information related to a diagnosis or condition, except as permitted by

A delegation of ten MPEC members attended the 2017 AFT Public Employees Professional Issues Conference in DC. MPEC President Jerry Smith was honored to give the opening address, welcoming attendees from across the country.

Our Members had a fantastic time and are ready to take the lessons learned back to their work sites.

View more photos from the conference here. 

Thank you to our fantastic members who joined us at our Annual Member Meeting. We look forward to continue working to keeping our members connected, protected and respected.

In the words of MPEC President Jerry Smith: "Together we are empowered, together we win!"

View photos from the meeting here.

Poor indoor air quality is a major issue in state-owned and lease buildings. Because there is currently no standard for indoor air quality in MD, MPEC is unable to hold the state accountable for the issues members are suffering due to poor conditions in their work buildings.

MPEC is working to change that. We're starting with documenting the problem.

Interested in joing the Indoor Air Quality committee? Sign up here.

Find out more about how MPEC is working to create an indoor air quality standard here: iaq_pp_4.27.17_training.pptx

The 2017 Maryland Legislative session has ended and the Governor’s budget did not include a COLA or funding for step increments. Still, the legislature did move forward on some bills that benefit state employees

• Leap Year Personal Leave (HB 324/SB580) will provide an additional personal leave day during a leap year.  State employees should not be forced to take a pay cut during a leap year.  
• Payroll Recovery (HB 1144) passed.  Under this legislation, those harmed in the “Workday” rollout after March of 2016 will have the month of July 2017 to file a grievance for lost wages. Going forward