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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

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Maryland can't force state retirees to switch to a federal prescription drug plan during this enrollment period. On Thursday, the State announced that they would extend coverage through December 2019.

“This means impacted retirees DO NOT have to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan for 2019 and may continue the coverage they have now into 2019 and at the same premium they are paying now,” the administration said in a post to the website of the Department of Budget and Management. “Details will follow in a notice mailed to retirees' homes.”

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• Under-Staffing
• Stress
• Low Morale
• Low Performance
• High Turn-Over

When we fight… we win! That was the battle cry at the 2018 Maryland Professional Employees Council annual member meeting. The meeting addressed the Supreme Court’s Janus decision but also focused on upcoming battles the union would be undertaking. Staff and members received thorough overviews from Royale Simms about the state of contracts and the give and take of previous negotiations with the state. Simms also spoke about many of the day-to-day challenges members of the bargaining unit experience. Members appreciated the thorough and candid conversation in Simms report.

Interim Director Jacque