By sticking together and fighting together our hard work has paid off! We are pleased to anounce that pay increases for all AFSCME members in the Water Department has been approved by the City Board of Estimates. This increase is the result of a Study we won in our last contract.
The Study's findings, which highlighted the need for higher pay for our members, were approved by the Board of Estimates on September 6, 2023.
We have attached a copy of the new water and wastewater salary scale to this letter.
Please note that the details of the salary increases, including your new grade number, will be communicated to you individually in the near future. We understand the importance of fair compensation and are committed to ensuring that your dedication and expe1tise are appropriately recognized.
We appreciate your patience as we finalize the implementation plan for these salary adjustments. Rest assured that we will provide you with fu1ther information as soon as it becomes available. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please feel free to reach out to us.
Thank you for your continued dedication to serving the residents of Baltimore City. We are proud to have you as members of Local 44, and we look forward to the positive impact this study will have on both our members and the community.
Dorothy Bryant
President, AFSCME Baltimore City Municipal Employees Local 44
More than a year after forming their union, members of the Academy Museum Workers Union (AMWU) have ratified their first union contract, guaranteeing a stronger voice on the job and better wages.
In May 2022, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures workers announced their intent to form a Union with AFSCME District Council 36, citing wage discrepancies, inadequate responses to COVID-19 outbreaks, and being asked to perform tasks outside their job description as just a few reasons. “I knew there were specific changes that needed to happen to keep my immediate coworkers safe, healthy, and solvent,” said Cheryl Jones, a visitor experience associate at the Academy Museum. “We hadn’t had a raise in more than a year of service with no prospect of one on the horizon, but after attending my first [union] informational meeting and hearing one of our museum curator’s stories, I knew then it was important to stand up for everyone and demand better conditions.”
AMWU members are the face of the museum. They guide visitors through the exhibits, answer questions, provide customer service, provide a safe environment, and much more. They love what they do and want to improve the museum not just for themselves but for the community they serve as well. This first contract significantly improves working conditions so that AMWU members can continue to provide visitors with an unforgettable experience.
The 3-year contract, which was approved by a 98.6% vote on September 22, includes a good deal of workplace improvements such as 15 days of personal time off for new employees, 10.5 paid holidays, plus 4 additional paid days off in the winter and three additional paid days off in the summer, and stipends for work clothing, formal wear, and steel toed boots.
The new contract also includes impressive wage increases. The minimum starting rate will increase to $20. Members will also receive a 3% wage increase each year of the contract. Additionally, members will receive a 2% step increase once they reach 2, 4, and 7 years of employment in their respective classifications.
For Sarah Stearn, a retail sales associate at the Academy Museum, language about immigration is one of the most impressive wins in this contract. The article protects employees from discrimination based on their immigration status. It also protects employees from being disciplined if the Museum has received notice of an immigration proceeding involving that employee. “Our contract is one of very few union contracts that includes an article on immigration,” said Stearn. “It’s a sticky topic since immigration law in the US is [expletive] on a stick but we felt it was necessary to protect all our bargaining unit employees, so we fought for it.”
For many AMWU members, a union contract finally gives them job security and a voice on the job. “A union contract is peace of mind,” said Stearn. “It's job security. It'...
Stacy Chamberlain is a mom, a fierce social justice advocate, a long-time union leader, seasoned executive, policy wonk, and someone who doesn’t blanch at setting big goals. She is focused on helping workers find their voice and collective power to build the communities they want to live and work in.
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Stacy joined Oregon AFSCME Council 75 as a Council Representative in 2005 and became the Executive Director in 2018. Previously, she served the Council as the Collective Bargaining Director and Associate Director. She was elected International Vice President in 2016 and re-elected in 2020.
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A Portland native and Willamette University Law School graduate, Stacy also has worked as Chief of Staff to a state senator in the Oregon legislature, a clerk for the U.S. Attorney's Office, an associate at a labor law firm, and a senior policy advisor to a former Portland City Commissioner.
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She serves on the Oregon AFL-CIO Executive Board and is a founding member of Oregon Women Labor Leaders (OWLL).
Oct. 24: Virtual Membership Mtg.; Oct. 25: Retirees of Cent. Florida Mtg.; Pres. Message; Injunction Stops Aetna Plan; Info on Healthcare, Senior Care Copays, Medicare Part B & IRMAA
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Oct. 24: Virtual Membership Mtg.; Oct. 26: Retirees of Cent. Florida Mtg.; Pres. Message; Injunction Stops Aetna Plan; Info on Healthcare, Senior Care Copays, Medicare Part B & IRMAA
The DC37 Retirees Association will be holding a General Membership Meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 at 10:00 AM EST.
To attend the meeting use the Zoom.us program with meeting ID 829 4297 2009. To join by phone, call 646.558.8656 and enter the meeting ID followed by the # sign.
Topic: Retiree membership meeting
Time: Sep 26, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Every month on the Fourth Tue, until Feb 27, 2024, 6 occurrence(s)
Oct 24, 2023 10:00 AM
Nov 28, 2023 10:00 AM
Dec 26, 2023 10:00 AM
Jan 23, 2024 10:00 AM
Feb 27, 2024 10:00 AM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Presented by the AFSCME International Auditing Department, this class instructs participants on IRS and AFSCME Financial Standards Code rules and regulations for union recordkeeping and reporting. We will examine the Code and discuss best practices for overseeing your local’s funds. This training is open to local elected leaders.
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Presented by the AFSCME International Auditing Department, this class instructs participants on IRS and AFSCME Financial Standards Code rules and regulations for union recordkeeping and reporting. We will examine the Code and discuss best practices for overseeing your local’s funds. This training is open to local elected leaders.