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

The MPEC bargaining team will begin negotiations September 25, 2019. Each year our contract priorities are determined by the results of the surveys submitted by members. This 10-question survey was emailed to all unit-g members in the MPEC database and will be posted on our website http://mpec.md.aft.org/. This survey will close Saturday, September 21, 2019.

Click here for the survey.

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