Tag Archives: MD & DC AFL-CIO

Union Activism Pays Off As Maryland Workers Win Right to Subtract Union Dues Off State Income Taxes

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Sometimes members ask why their union wants them to support and participate in political activism. On Monday, May 8, 2023, union members in Maryland got a clear example of how political activism benefits them when Governor Wes Moore signed House Bill 2.

With his signature and the hard work of the Maryland State & DC AFL-CIO and its affiliates, Maryland’s workers finally regained the ability to subtract their union dues on their state income taxes (without itemizing). This shows that the state understands union dues are an investment in the working class. This is a victory for workers throughout Maryland and the State Federation’s coordinated campaign made it possible.

Business Manager Mike McHale (back row, 5th from right) and Asst. Business Agent Rico Albacarys (back row, 2nd from right) were in Annapolis for the official bill signing ceremony.

IBEW Local 24’s leadership and members joined the State Federation and other affiliated unions in the years-long fight to restore this benefit for years after Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act removed it. This session, like last year, the House of Delegates put a cap on the subtraction and through our collective campaign of emails, calls and signs we were able to have the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the full Senate remove the cap and pass the bill as introduced. 

Governor Wes Moore presented Asst. Business Agent Rico Albacarys with one of the pens used to sign HB 2.

Join Us At Union Night Rally In Annapolis

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Local 24 IBEW is proud to take part in Union Night in Annapolis, when our members engage with Maryland’s elected officials and express support or opposition for legislation that is being considered by the General Assembly.

Union Night is an annual event organized by the Metro Baltimore Council AFL-CIO and the Baltimore/D.C. Building Trades Union. It brings together members of many unions, both public and private sector.

Check out the flyer below for more information. Local 24 provides buses for transport from the union hall to Lawyer’s Mall. You can sign up TODAY using our online form or by calling the Hall at 410 247-5511.

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.