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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

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. At a recent member meeting, she discussed a number of issues and priorities that state workers were facing as well as issues particularly to MDE. Those in attendance were excited to know that the union is looking for volunteers for two committee: legislative and negotiations. These are important to members because the best

Maryland Professional Employees Council (MPEC) hosted two lunch and learns at the Glen Burnie MVA and  the Department of Labor Licensing and Regulations. Shop stewards Davene Johnson (Glen Burnie) and Michelle Roberts (DLLR) did a great job turning out members to hear what AFT-Maryland organizer Aaron Ray had to share. In both meetings, he updated members on the contract and the raises that MPEC got for members.

Those in attendance were made aware of the legislative fights and victories of the union on their behalf during the 2019 General Assembly session. In both sessions during the Q&A, the

Members were fired up and ready to go at the MPEC Steward Training on Thursday May 30, 2019. The training, held in Baltimore, brought together stewards from across a variety of agencies for an intensive training of how to best serve members of the union on the job. Michael Spiller of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) was the lead facilitator during the training. He covered a number of different intra-office issues and topics. MPEC President Jerry Smith was in attendance and laid out some of the rules and bylaws of the MPEC constitution as well as the

The 2018 Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court decision was a blow against organized labor and public sector unions in particular. While anti-union advocates may have thought they struck a death knell against labor, the energy from the MPEC annual member meeting suggests the Janus decision may have only awakened a sleeping giant. President Jerry Smith informed the body of the state of financial affairs of the union. The most important numbers he offered were the nearly 1,300 new members the union has picked up since the infamous court case. He was proud of the union’s work thus far and was looking

AFT-Maryland Professional Employee Council members turned out on Saturday, December 08, 2019 and VOTED 100% YES to support the 2020 Economic Re-Opener agreement that garnered its members a second consecutive year of wage increases.  MPEC's President Jerry T. Smith and the contract negotiation's team are committed to "getting wage increases how they can get it".

You may recall, during last year's negotiations, under Smith's leadership, the negotiation's team successfully negotiated a 2% COLA (Jan. 1 2019), and .05% COLA plus $500 lump sum bonus (Apr. 1, 2019) for professional State employees. 

Maryland Professional Employees Council was front and center at the State Center worksite, engaging members, talking to union activists, and rallying the bargaining unit for upcoming economic negotiations. The union chose the Farmers Market as the day to be on the street talking to members who were out and about. MPEC leadership and staff explained to all state workers what the union had done to get cost of living adjustments and to get the one-time bonus money for state workers.

Many members and state workers were unaware of the union’s hard work. They were under the impression these were