Category Archives: Legislative & Political

Take Action! Tell The U.S. Senate To Oppose Neil Gorsuch For The Supreme Court

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Hearings began in the Senate last week on President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch.

Gorsuch would be terrible for working people. He’s routinely voted against the interests of working people when it comes to safety on the job and discrimination in the workplace, and has denied workers’ efforts to secure earned wages and benefits.

In the coming years, the Supreme Court is going to be taking up really important cases that will have a huge effect on working people’s right to stand together in a union to improve their workplaces, to fight discrimination in the workplace and be safe on the job. After listening to Gorsuch’s answers during his hearing and reviewing his record, it’s clear he will put the interests of corporations before those of working people.

Working people are among those with the most to lose if he’s appointed. That’s why it’s up to us to stop him.

Sign the petition to tell the Senate to oppose his nomination

The petition to the U.S. Senate says the following:

President Trump’s nominee for Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch, will put the interests of corporations before those of working people. I urge you to oppose Judge Gorsuch’s nomination and insist on a nominee with a record of respect for the rights of working families.

Have You Thought About Running For Public Office? The AFL-CIO Wants To Help

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Path to Power is a project of the AFL-CIO Political Department to identify, recruit, and elect candidates to run for local government offices. The purpose is to shift the power in local government to favor stronger pro-worker policies and develop a bench of candidates to move into higher office.

Path to Power will work with affiliates, state federations, local labor bodies and close partners to identify union members and progressive, pro-working families candidates who can run winning campaigns in identified races.

Path to Power is a comprehensive program that follows the candidate through all stages from recruitment to governing including:

Identify & Recruit Candidates – Using data analytics, local knowledge and the political landscape to identify races that can be won by progressive pro-working families’ candidates. Local labor leaders and partners will then identify potential candidates to run in those races.

Candidate Training – Path to Power, in partnership with state federations and affiliates on the ground, will train candidates on how to run a campaign, including: campaign messaging, labor issues, campaign planning, fundraising, and voter contact.

Electoral Support – Path to Power will offer continued support to endorsed Path to Power Candidates to assist in their election efforts, as allowed by each state’s election law.

Issues & Accountability – Path to Power Alumni in elected office will have access to continued issue education and policy conferences, giving alumni the resources they need to introduce and pass progressive, pro-working families legislation.

Just Say NO To The Anti-Labor Secretary

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Donald Trump’s nominee for Labor Secretary—fast-food CEO Andrew Puzder—is anything but the ally working people need. The millionaire opposes meaningful increases to the minimum wage and overtime pay. He’s lined his own pockets while cheating his employees at Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr, violating the same laws he would oversee as Labor Secretary. Puzder demeans women with his sexist ads and comments, and 66 percent of women working at his restaurants report unwanted sexual harassment. Without a doubt, Puzder will make workplaces worse. For more information about Puzder’s record, check out http://antilaborsecretary.org/

Make sure your Senators know you oppose fast-food boss Andrew Puzder for Labor Secretary. Call 1-844-612-6113 today!

There’s no time to spare. The Senate is likely to hold its first hearing on Puzder this month and a confirmation vote is likely to follow soon after. We’re joining with an unprecedented coalition of workers around the country to make our voices heard and stop the Anti-Labor Secretary from coming into office and doing any more damage to working people.

Join us today by clicking here or calling 1-844-612-6113 to reach both of your senators. After you’re connected to one of your senator’s offices, tell whomever answers that you want the senator to vote NO on Andrew Puzder’s confirmation as Secretary of Labor.

Here’s a sample script to use when making the call:

“Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and as a resident of {CITY, STATE}, I am calling to urge the Senator to vote against confirming Andrew Puzder as Secretary of Labor, as he will make workplaces worse.

He has a history of violating labor laws and cheating the people who work for his restaurants out of their pay. He opposes minimum wage and overtime pay increases and continually puts profits ahead of people. He has a history of running sexist ads and demeaning women. He’s not the advocate we need in the Department of Labor. Thanks for your hard work answering the phones!”

We expect phone lines may be busy at times. Don’t be discouraged – it’s a great sign that phones are ringing off the hook. Just please try calling back a little later to get through.

It’s imperative that our senators hear from us IMMEDIATELY and understand why they must vote NO on Puzder’s nomination. Click here or call 1-844-612-6113 now!

PS: If your Senator’s mailbox is full or you can’t get through, please call one of their state offices. You can look up those local office numbers here.

“We can never back down from our values” – AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

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Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the 2016 Presidential Election

Donald Trump has been elected president. America is a democratic nation, and the voters have spoken. The AFL-CIO accepts the outcome of this election, and offers our congratulations to President-elect Trump.

More than anything, this election is an indictment of politics as usual.

For too long, the political elites have embraced economic policies that hold down wages, increase inequality, diminish opportunity and ship American jobs overseas. Voters in both the primary and general election have delivered a clear message: enough.

The President-elect made promises in this campaign—on trade, on restoring manufacturing, on reviving our communities. We will work to make many of those promises a reality. If he is willing to work with us, consistent with our values, we are ready to work with him.

But make no mistake, we can never back down from our values. The presence of racism, misogyny, and anti-immigrant appeals caused damage in this campaign and we must all try to repair it with inclusion, decency and honesty.

As we move forward, the labor movement is committed to defending our American democracy. Ultimately, the fundamental duty of America’s President, symbolized by swearing to uphold our Constitution, is to protect and preserve our democracy and the institutions that make it real.  We hope to work with President Elect Trump to help him carry out this solemn responsibility. Regardless, America’s labor movement will protect our democracy and safeguard the most vulnerable among us.

This election is a statement about our broken economic and political rules. Therefore, the work of the labor movement continues with fresh urgency. The change voters cried out for in this campaign can be found by standing together in unions. The election is over. But we are more committed than ever to helping working people win a voice on the job and in our democracy.

We will never stop striving to represent everyone, fighting for basic human dignity, expanding our diversity and growing our ranks to give working people a strong, united voice.

Message from the MD & DC AFL-CIO on election results

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Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO

                  mddc-afl-cio

 

Fred D. Mason, Jr.                                             Donna S. Edwards
          President                                                              Secretary-Treasurer       

    ______________________________________________________________________
A message from President Mason………….

Leaders,

Thank you for all of your hard work as you participated in our democratic processes.  Our efforts to secure victory for our endorsed candidates from Maryland and the District of Columbia were successful.

Chris Van Hollen won overwhelmingly to be our next United States Senator representing the State of Maryland.  Congratulations go out to Chris and we expect that he will continue his great leadership.

Congress members, Steny Hoyer, Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersburger, John Sarbanes and Eleanor Holmes-Norton were all re-elected and we congratulate them on their victories.  It is great to have such a seasoned and trusted team.

We are proud to have played a significant role in sending two new members to the United States House of Representatives:  Anthony Brown and Jamie Raskin.  Their time spent in the governance of Maryland prepared them to be worthy of the responsibility to represent our interests on the national stage.

While our endorsed candidate for president, Hillary Clinton, didn’t win nationally, we take great pride and give thanks to all for helping to make her a winner in our jurisdiction.

We congratulate president elect Trump and wish him success in being a president for all.

Thank you for your participation in helping to secure our democracy.  The struggle continues!

 

Fred D. Mason, Jr.
President, MD/DC AFL-CIO

7 School Street
Annapolis, MD 21401

Your Vote Counts!

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your-vote-counts-294x194If you didn’t get to the polls during Maryland’s early voting period, make sure you cast your vote on Election Day. It is Tuesday, November 8, 2016 and polls will be open from 7:00 am until 8:00 pm

LABOR’S ENDORSED CANDIDATES
(Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO)

U.S. President:

Hillary Clinton – Endorsement

U.S. Senate (Maryland):

Chris Van Hollen – Endorsement

U.S. Congress (District of Columbia)

At Large:

Eleanor Holmes Norton – Endorsement

U.S. Congress (Maryland)

District 1:

No Endorsement

District 2:

Dutch Ruppersberger – Endorsement

District 3:

John Sarbanes – Endorsement

District 4:

Anthony Brown – Endorsement

District 5:

Steny Hoyer – Endorsement

District 6:

No Recommendation

District 7:

Elijah Cummings – Endorsement

District 8:

Jamin “Jamie” Raskin – Endorsement

ENDORSEMENT KEY
No Recommendation:    Requires a majority (50% +1) of the votes cast, and affiliates may support the candidate of their choice.

Endorsement:                   Requires a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast, and all affiliates are expected to support that candidate.

Limited Endorsement:   Requires a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast.

No Endorsement:              Requires a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast, and all affiliates are expected not to offer support to any candidate in that race.

 

 

Early Voting In Maryland Begins On October 27

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Maryland is one of many states that allows voters the flexibility of early voting. You can vote and make your voice heard on your schedule, when it is convenient for you!

From Thursday, October 27, 2016 through Thursday, November 3, 2016, there will be polling locations open from 8AM to 8PM in every county in Maryland (see complete list below).

Representatives from Local 24, along with other unions and members of organized labor who are affiliated with the MD & DC AFL-CIO, have issued endorsements in most of the major races in Maryland. Endorsements are based upon direct interviews, publicly stated positions on issues that are important to working families, and the candidates’ records.

 vote-early

LABOR’S ENDORSED CANDIDATES
(Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO)

U.S. President:

Hillary Clinton – Endorsement

U.S. Senate (Maryland):

Chris Van Hollen – Endorsement

U.S. Congress (District of Columbia)

At Large:

Eleanor Holmes Norton – Endorsement

U.S. Congress (Maryland)

District 1:

No Endorsement

District 2:

Dutch Ruppersberger – Endorsement

District 3:

John Sarbanes – Endorsement

District 4:

Anthony Brown – Endorsement

District 5:

Steny Hoyer – Endorsement

District 6:

No Recommendation

District 7:

Elijah Cummings – Endorsement

District 8:

Jamin “Jamie” Raskin – Endorsement

ENDORSEMENT KEY
No Recommendation:    Requires a majority (50% +1) of the votes cast, and affiliates may support the candidate of their choice.

Endorsement:                   Requires a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast, and all affiliates are expected to support that candidate.

Limited Endorsement:   Requires a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast.

No Endorsement:              Requires a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast, and all affiliates are expected not to offer support to any candidate in that race.

 

 

MARYLAND EARLY VOTING CENTERS
All of the early voting centers in Maryland are accessible to voters with disabilities.

 

Allegany County

  1. Allegany County Office Complex – 701 Kelly Rd, Room 100, Cumberland, MD 21502

Anne Arundel County

  1. Odenton Regional Library – 1325 Annapolis Rd, Odenton, MD 21113
  2. Glen Burnie Regional Library – 1010 Eastway, Glen Burnie, MD 21060
  3. Severna Park Community Library – 45 W. McKinsey Rd, Severna Park, MD 21146
  4. Annapolis Senior Activity Center – 119 S. Villa Ave, Annapolis, MD 21401
  5. Edgewater Community Library – 25 Stepneys Ln, Edgewater, MD 21037

Baltimore City

  1. Public Safety Training Facility(Old Pimlico Middle) – 3500 W. Northern Pkwy (Enter on Manhattan Ave.), Baltimore, MD 21215
  2. Southeast Anchor Library – 3601 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224
  3. Maritime Industries Academy School #431 – Rear Entrance – Enter on Truesdale Ave.) 5001 Sinclair Lane, Baltimore, MD 21206
  4. League for People with Disabilities – 1111 East Coldspring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21239
  5. Westside Skills Center – 4501 Edmondson Ave. (Enter on Athol Ave), Baltimore, MD 21229
  6. Univ. of MD at Baltimore – Comm. Engagement Ctr, 1 N. Poppleton St, Baltimore, MD 21201

Baltimore County

  1. Towson Univ. – Admin. Bldg, 7720 York Rd, Towson, MD 21252
  2. Arbutus Comm. Ctr – 865 Sulphur Spring , Baltimore, MD 21227
  3. Honeygo Run Community Ctr – 9033 Honeygo Blvd, Perry Hall, MD 21128
  4. Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Ctr – 323 Sollers Point Rd, Dundalk, MD 21222
  5. Randallstown Community Ctr – 3505 Resource Drive, Randallstown, MD 21133
  6. Victory Villa Community Ctr – 404 E. Compass Rd, Baltimore, MD 21220
  7. Center for MD Agriculture & Farm Park – 1114 Shawan Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030
  8. Reisterstown Sr Ctr- Hannah Moore, 12035 Reisterstown Rd, Reisterstown, MD 21136
  9. Woodlawn Community Ctr – 2120 Gwynn Oak Ave., Woodlawn, MD 21207

Calvert County

  1. Community Resources Bldg – 30 Duke Street – Lower Level, Prince Frederick, MD 20678

Caroline County

  1. Caroline County Health & Public Services Bldg – 1st Floor, Room 112, 403 S. Seventh St                                                                                        Denton, MD 21629

Carroll County

  1. Westminster Senior Activities Ctr – 125 Stoner Ave, Westminster, MD 21157

Cecil County

  1. Cecil County Admin. Bldg- Elk Room – 200 Chesapeake Blvd, Elkton, MD 21921

Charles County

  1. LaPlata Firehouse – 911 Washington Ave., La Plata, MD 20646
  2. Gleneagles Neighborhood Ctr – 4900 Kirkcaldy Court, Waldorf, MD 20602

Dorchester County

  1. Dorchester County Office Bldg – Lobby – 501 Court Lane, Cambridge, MD 21613

Frederick County

  1. Frederick Sr Ctr – 1440 Taney Ave, Frederick, MD 21702
  2. Thurmont Regional Library – 76 East Moser Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788
  3. Urbana Regional Library – 9020 Amelung St, Frederick, MD 21704

Garrett County

  1. Oakland Comm. Ctr – (The Armory) – 14 North 8th St, Oakland, MD 21550
  2. Northern Outreach Ctr – 12601 National Pike, Grantsville, MD 21536

Harford County

  1. McFaul Activity Ctr – 525 W. MacPhail Rd, Bel Air, MD 21014
  2. Edgewood Library – 629 Edgewood Rd, Edgewood, MD 21040
  3. The University Center (formerly HEAT Ctr) – 1201 Technology Dr, Aberdeen, MD 21001
  4. Jarrettsville Library – 3722 Norrisville Rd, Jarrettsville, MD 21084

Howard County

  1. The Bain Senior Ctr – 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, MD 21044
  2. Howard County Miller Branch Library – 9421 Frederick Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042
  3. Ridgely’s Run Community Ctr – 8400 Mission Rd, Jessup, MD 20794

Kent County

  1. Kent County Public Library – 408 High St, Chestertown, MD 21620

Montgomery County

  1. Activity Ctr at Bohrer Park Social Hall – 506 S. Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
  2. Germantown Community Recreation Ctr – 18905 Kingsview Rd, Germantown, MD 20874
  3. Marilyn J. Praisner Community Center – 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866
  4. Executive Office Building Auditorium – 101 Monroe St, Rockville, MD 20850
  5. Silver Spring Civic Bldg at Veterans Plaza – One Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910
  6. Damascus Community Recreation Center Social Hall – 25520 Oak Dr., Damascus, MD 20872
  7. Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center Social Hall – 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
  8. Mid-County Community Recreation Center Social Hall – 2004 Queensguard Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20906
  9. Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad – 2400 Arcola Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902
  10. Potomac Community Recreation Ctr – 11315 Falls Rd, Potomac, MD 20854

Prince George’s County

  1. Upper Marlboro Community Ctr – 5400 Marlboro Race Track Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
  2. College Park Community Ctr – 5051 Pierce Ave, College Park, MD 20740
  3. Baden Community Ctr – 13601 Baden-Westwood Rd, Brandywine, MD 20613
  4. Wayne K. Curry Sports & Learning Ctr – 8001 Sheriff Rd, Landover, MD 20785
  5. Bowie Gymnasium – 4100 Northview Dr, Bowie, MD 20716
  6. Laurel – Beltsville Senior Activity Ctr – 7120 Contee Rd, Laurel, MD 20707
  7. Suitland Community Park School – 5600 Regency Lane, Forestville, MD 20747
  8. Southern Regional Tech and Recreation Complex – 7007 Bock Rd, Fort Washington, MD 20744

Queen Anne’s County

  1. Queen Anne’s County Community Services, Kramer Ctr – 104 Powell St, Centreville, MD 21617
  2. Kent Island Fire Department – 1610 Main Street, Chester, MD 21619

St. Mary’s County

  1. Hollywood Firehouse Carnival Bingo Bldg – 24801 Three Notch Rd, Hollywood, MD 20636

Somerset County

  1. Somerset County Office Bldg, Stes 102 & 105 – 11916 Somerset Ave., Princess Anne, MD 21853

Talbot County

  1. Easton Fire Hall – 315 Aurora Park Dr, Easton, MD 21601

Washington County

  1. Washington County Early Voting Ctr (Phoenix Color Bldg II)- 101 Tandy Dr, Hagerstown, MD 21740

Wicomico County

  1. Wicomico County Youth and Civic Center Midway Room 500 Glen Ave, Salisbury, MD 21804

Worcester County

  1. Gull Creek Sr Living Community – 1 Meadow St, Berlin, MD 21811

 

 

 

 

 

Congressman Cummings Special Guest At August Membership Meeting

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Elijah Cummings (D), the U.S. Representative for Maryland’s 7th congressional district, was a guest speaker at Local 24’s general membership meeting in August. Congressman Cummings spoke about the upcoming general election, among other things.

Cummings, who has served in the House of Representatives since 1996, is running for reelection in November. According to his campaign website, he lists public education, good jobs, foreclosure prevention and support of small/minority businesses among his legislative priorities.

On behalf of the International Union’s Committee on Political Education, Local 24 Business Manager Gary R. Griffin presented Congressman Cummings with a campaign contribution.

Maryland’s 7th district includes portions of Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County. In his re-election campaign, he is endorsed by (Local 24/Baltimore Metro Council/MD & DC AFL-CIO).

Union Night In Annapolis

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Almost 200 members of IBEW Local 24 turned out to represent our union and all Maryland working people at the annual Labor Night Rally in Annapolis on the evening of Monday, March 21, 2016.

The rally, which is coordinated every year by the Metropolitan Baltimore Council AFL-CIO, took place before the MD General Assembly’s Monday night session, and included members of various Maryland unions representing the Building Trades and public and private workers. Union members come out to remind our elected officials that our priorities are good jobs, fair wages and safe working conditions.

Speakers included Local 24 member and MD Delegate Cory McCray (District 45, Baltimore City) and MD Delegate Jimmy Tarlau (District 47A, PG County) who was a representative for the Communications Workers of America (CWA) prior to his election.

Local 24 Business Manager Gary Griffin, Metropolitan Council President Ernie Grecco and MD & DC AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Donna Edwards also spoke.

Members Wanted For Labor Night Rally In Annapolis

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Local 24 members and leaders will be gathering in Annapolis on Monday night, March 21, 2016 for the annual Labor Night in Annapolis.

Planned by the Metropolitan Baltimore Central Labor Council, this event brings together union members from all sectors, including the Building Trades and public and private sector workers.2016Labor Night in Annapolis

Through our presence in numbers, as well as the messages delivered by local union leaders and scheduled speakers, union members are able to let our elected representatives in the Maryland House of Delegates know how we feel on bills related to issues including

  • Prevailing wage laws
  • “Right to Work” (for less) legislation
  • Workers safety and more

Make plans to join the Rally and strengthen the voice of Maryland’s working people. You can meet with other members at the Hall in Baltimore and ride into Annapolis on buses, or if it’s easier just meet the group at Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis at 6PM. Wear your union jackets, shirts and hats to show that you are a proud member of Local 24!

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