Maryland's largest state employee union is set to begin collecting fees from nonmembers this month — a move that sets up the Maryland chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees for what could be a $4.7 million gain over the fiscal year.
AFSCME sees the additional money as a matter of fairness, since the union negotiates contracts with the state on behalf of all its bargaining members, though fewer than half pay dues. Union officials say the extra money will allow them to improve services.
But some of the 12,500 state workers who will find as much as a $389 bite out of their annual pay criticize the new fees.
"People like me, I don't have a lot of faith in unions," said Michael White, who works for the Motor Vehicle Administration in Glen Burnie.
It used to be a free country. Md. should change it's by-line, "the free state".
ReplyDeleteWhat services could they possibly improve? Are there any services?
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a state employee and he is furious abut it. He's been fuming for months now. There is some provision like a consciencious objector status that he's exploring. He's even considered retiring before a union gets one penny of his earnings.
ReplyDeleteIt's called "theft" in most circles. I agree, 803, Maryland should either change its slogan or become a "right to work" state.
ReplyDeletewhat should change is the total elimination of state unions
ReplyDeleteWELCOME TO MARYLAND Whats in your WALLET ??? Better yet what use to be in your WALLET ?? Wake up Md. VOTE THEM ALL OUT while we have a dollar left in our wallets ..
ReplyDeleteWhy are the State Employees moaning about this? O'Malley gave them a bonus during the election and everybody thought he was a swell guy then.
ReplyDeletethis whole umion bs is a joke! I am a state employee, sure we had furlough days,pay cuts but we still had jobs and we didnt and dont need a union to keep them. this "union" has done nothing for state employees.Now they will have the op to rob us blind! Thanx gov dont go looking for my vote!!!
ReplyDeleteO'malley never gave state employees a bonus. In the last three years ive had at least a months worth of furlough days and many state employees have had even more. having said that i do have a job and do get paid so im not complaining just cleaning up the facts.Hey "al in fenwick"Thats delaware right...try to worry about your own state..or at least have your facts straight.
ReplyDeleteCommunism
ReplyDeleteAmerica sucks since we've been taken over by the Central Bankers
20:11
ReplyDeleteWell that's good, because Md. is only The Free State to people who live on the western shore. Real Marylanders call it The Old Line state.
If you guys hate paying union dues you are free to go to work for Walmart. Now ask yourself this: what percentage of state workers are on welfare? What percentage of Walmart workers are on welfare? See how that works.
ReplyDeleteYou kvetch and moan about corporate conspiracies. How much do you think these corporations would pay if there were no better jobs for people to bail to? How much do you think PRMC would pay anyone, if better pay wasn't available elsewhere?
Men and women have a right to collectively bargain, it's their only tool of negotiation with a corporation or collusion of corporations. You want a race to the bottom? Get rid of unions. And BTW, you're envy stinks. Get some backbone and organize. If a bunch of migrant workers can do it, you can. - David Hearne
gee 11:15 must be a union worker
ReplyDeleteunions run companies out of business
foodlion is doing fine, hows superfresh doing?
why can the japanese/germans/ect build cars and import them for cheaper then they can be built in the states? dont give me that quality crap. vw is much better then ford.
11:22
ReplyDelete"why can the japanese/germans/ect build cars and import them for cheaper"
Those workers are unionized and those countries have universal single payer healthcare. I don't like to be juvenile, but....
FAIL!
And no, I am not a union member. I was a union waiter years ago, and guess what? That restaurant didn't charge any more than others, and the owner lived in the most exclusive neighborhood in the country.