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On behalf of several state employees, MCEA has filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) against AFSCME. The complaint contends that AFSCME did not - whether intentionally or not - allow maximum participation for state employees to ratify a contract proposal when it sent out ballots over a holiday period without a copy of the full proposal and with an identification number where they could track how employees voted. The State Labor Relations Board will consider our complaint.

General Assembly meets Jan. 9 amid elected officials' talks of further budget cuts. In addition to the spending cuts' impact on state workers and retirees, MCEA will be addressing any legislation that may be introduced to authorize service fees, 20-year retirement for correctional case managers, a deferred retirement option program (DROP) program for Correctional Officers, and ensuring that retirees are not moved into the federal Medicare prescription drug plan.

MCEA has hired 2 lobbyists to assist the union during the 2008 session. David Boschert, a former 17-year Delegate from Anne Arundel County, will primarily deal with the House.Gerard E. Evans, who at one time was the state's highest paid lobbyist, will lobby the Senate.

Finally, an MOU proposal. AFSCME's MOU for Units A, B, C, D, F and H places restrictions on MCEA's and other organization's access to state facilities and orientations. However, the MOU (the first in about 4 years) includes a 2% COLA and an additional pay period for which state workers won't have deductions for their health benefits. As you recall, the pay raise and deduction-free pay period were part of the legislature's budget discussions that took place during the special session of the General Assembly. Employees should return their ballots and vote yes or no to the MOU. A decision not to respond could be taken as a vote in favor of the MOU. The MCEA Board of Directors has authorized that Legal Counsel file an unfair labor practice (ULP) complaint with the State Labor Relations Board regarding these restrictions in the MOU. Our attorney, Hillary Galloway Davis, filed that complaint on Dec. 24. Earlier this month MCEA filed a ULP against the state and Department of Budget and Management regarding their directive barring MCEA's access to Department of Human Resources facilities and other state offices and orientation and training activities. More details on the ULP are forthcoming.

The state of Maryland is at it again, denying MCEA access to new employee orientations. In response, MCEA has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the Department of Budget and Management. MCEA charges that the state is violating the collective bargaining law, which prohibits the state of Maryland, employees or unions from: "Interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of their rights under this title." MCEA contends that by denying employees the opportunity to receive information from our union, the state is denying employees their right to "take part or refrain from taking part in forming, joining, supporting or participating in any employee organization or its lawful activities." To resolve the issue, MCEA wants the labor board to direct DBM to stop preventing MCEA access, and to issue a notice to all agencies that we are permitted in orientations, health fairs, etc.

SERVICE FEES = MANDATORY PAY CUT. On Oct. 29, MCEA launched its campaign against service fees for collective bargaining. MCEA considers service fees a union tax on state and higher education employees, which will amount to a pay cut. However, the monies collected from employees' paychecks would not go to the state treasury; they would go to the unions, who stand to gain millions each year. MCEA's campaign to inform employees about the consequences of any legislation supporting service fees will include distribution of direct mail pieces and radio advertising. Our radio spot ran Dec. 4-9 on WWIN (95.9FM), WOLB (1010AM) and WPOC (93.1FM). We will keep you informed. For more information about service fees, read on.