Delegates from theCity Union of Baltimore joined hundreds of locals from around the country at the AFT National Convention in Los Angeles, California July 10-14, 2014.

City Union of Baltimore representatives Antoinette Ryan-Johnson, Diane Elliott, Maxine Holmes, and Pauline Fayall attended the Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel (PSRP) conference in Orlando, Florida, April 10-13, 2014.

It is CUB’s commitment to continually provide its stewards with the tools, resources and information necessary to better serve its members. In this effort, training was provided to the stewards on May 8, 2014. The training, conducted by Delores Powell, Executive Assistant and assisted by Janell Edmonds, AFT-Maryland and Maxine Holmes, labor representative focused on the roles and responsibilities of the union steward. The “Labor History” was presented by AFT Staff member Amy Buhruth.

Article 9 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) states: “Disciplinary action may be imposed upon employees only for just cause.” What is “just cause”? In 1962, an arbitration case set the precedent for determining whether discipline is warranted. This case, “Enterprise Wire Co, 46LA362” established 7 tests or standards for “just cause” as follows:

The City Union of Baltimore has taken a stand of “Reclaiming the Promise.” The Promise of America is under attack. Consequently, public services are being privatized, defunded, and deprofessionalized by our government; salaries are being cut, pensions raided, employees are being forced to do more with less.

Members of the City Union of Baltimore, their families and friends enjoyed AFL-CIO Night at Camden Yards. Our Orioles lost to the Toronto Blue Jays and there was a rain delay, but all in all, it was a fun time.

The cost of tickets was $6.00, $1.00 of which was donated to the AFL-CIO food bank. Ticket sales produced $26,000 in donations to the food bank.

Thanks to everyone who voted for me; I am honored that you have entrusted me to serve a second term as secretary for the City Union of Baltimore. Since being installed in October, I have served on the negotiation team that aggressively strives to secure a contract that will benefit our members.

I want to express my sincerest gratitude to each and every one of you for electing and entrusting me to fulfill the duties of treasurer of the City Union of Baltimore, Local 800. My name is Antoinette M. Ryan-Johnson, I am a seventeen-year employee of the City of Baltimore, the mother of one college-aged son and the god-mother of three younger children. I am also a licensed realtor in the state of Maryland.

I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the newly elected executive vice president. Also as the Committee on Political Education (COPE) Chairman, I continue attending sessions at the General Assembly in Annapolis; participated in the submission of bills to the Baltimore City Council; served on the interview panel for candidates seeking endorsements from labor; member of the Legislative Committee for AFT-Maryland.

It has been my privilege to be president for about a year and a half. I have taken this position to do my best to continue our growth with your help. My vision is to improve communication with our members, as well as stakeholders, and to protect the rights and benefits of our members.