A yellow flyer was put in school mailboxes and mailed home to bus drivers with information about the upcoming contract ratification meeting.  

Click here for this week's update!

In this issue:

1) Should I write a Rebuttal?

2) Inspiration from Dr. Papadopoulos

3) AFT Winter Academy

4) Take full advantage of your Flexible Spending Account

5) Union-Plus Holiday Giveback (LAST DAY!)

And MUCH MORE!

This year has been challenging in ways that make it feel like an entire decade has passed by. That's why now, more than ever, it's important to pause to take inventory of the things we are thankful for. With so much hurt and pain socially, politically, and with health, now is the time to look toward the positive things that bring us joy. The quarantine has allowed us to spend more time at home with family.

There were many questions concerning the upcoming election that our national union has addressed. They recommended we maintain the nominations but restart the rest of the process including hiring a new election judge.

Attention CUB Members
Important Healthcare Information
Baltimore City Open Enrollment Updates

The City of Baltimore has extended the Healthcare Open Enrollment Period to Nov 23, 2020.

Please see flyer​ and contact Employee Benefits at 410-396-5830 for further information.

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Click here for this week's update

In This issue

1) Benefits Update

2) COPE Update

3) Wellness and Self-Care

4) Union Plus Holiday Give Back

And More!

AFT Healthcare Maryland held our annaul member meeting virtually, we discussed issues of vacciniations, essential status, legislative activities and much more. You can find a link to the power point presentation that we went over, here.

The Open Enrollment deadline has been extended! Employees must log in to Workday to validate current benefits and make any updates before Open Enrollment ends on November 23. Please see the newsletter for more information.

Ask BESE for an Instructional Minutes Waiver for 2020-2021

A few members have questioned why 30 minutes are being added to the school day. Here’s the reason: Louisiana law requires all school districts to have a certain number of minutes of instruction each year.

Last school year, those requirements were waived because of COVID, but so far this year, the State has not issued any such waiver. You can help address this issue by sending an email to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and Superintendent Brumley to ask them to waive the traditional instructional minutes requirement for this year.

Click here to send an email now!

MPEC is working to address agency non-compliance with the Governor's telework orders on November 10th. (Click here to download the letter sent to Governor Hogan and Secretary Brinkley) The Dept. of Budget and Management has allowed each agency to interpret and implement policies and mandates that are intended to protect employees at the manager's discretion. The difference in implementation that we are experiencing has certainly revealed the value of human life as very subjective to individual personalities. We are thankful for the managers whose actions clearly display respect and appreciation for the life of others. However, the managers whose actions indicate otherwise, creating gratuitous risks, will certainly be addressed to the greatest extent possible.

Sadly, this difference in implementation has been an on-going issue since the beginning of the pandemic. We are speaking with lawmakers to pass legislation that will eliminate subjective loopholes in policies and mandates intended to prevent or mitigate harm to state employees. We will post updates on the MPEC website and Facebook page.

In solidarity,

Jerry Smith, President