The Mad Crapper
07-05-2011, 01:13 PM
July 04, 2011|By Julie Bykowicz, The Baltimore Sun
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.
The fees — which will also be collected by smaller unions such as the American Federation of Teachers — are allowed under The Fair Share Act, which the state legislature passed in 2009 largely on a party-line vote. Gov. Martin O'Malley, a pro-labor Democrat who benefited from strong union support in his re-election bid last year, had pushed the measure.
AFSCME Maryland represents 21,000 workers in collective bargaining with the state, but only 8,000 are dues-paying members. Another 4,000 workers not represented by AFSCME in contract negotiations pay dues to the union anyway, to tap benefits such as grievance representation.
"It's very exciting," said Sue Esty, AFSCME Maryland's assistant director. She has been with the organization for two decades. "We've always had a problem providing adequate service to our members because we have been so underfunded. This empowers employees."
The union brings in about $4.7 million per year in dues, an amount that is likely to double under the new fee structure.
Maryland joins the District of Columbia and at least 22 other states, including Pennsylvania and Delaware, in allowing state employee unions to collect such service fees.
Beginning in mid-July, employees represented by AFSCME will have an amount between $10.80 and $14.96 deducted automatically from their biweekly paychecks.
AFSCME officials say they did not implement the fee structure last year because employees were saddled with pay freezes and unpaid days off. Republican lawmakers see another motive in the timing: O'Malley was up for re-election last year, and the new fee could have angered thousands of potential voters.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-07-04/news/bs-md-union-fees-expand-20110704_1_union-fees-afscme-maryland-sue-esty
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.
The fees — which will also be collected by smaller unions such as the American Federation of Teachers — are allowed under The Fair Share Act, which the state legislature passed in 2009 largely on a party-line vote. Gov. Martin O'Malley, a pro-labor Democrat who benefited from strong union support in his re-election bid last year, had pushed the measure.
AFSCME Maryland represents 21,000 workers in collective bargaining with the state, but only 8,000 are dues-paying members. Another 4,000 workers not represented by AFSCME in contract negotiations pay dues to the union anyway, to tap benefits such as grievance representation.
"It's very exciting," said Sue Esty, AFSCME Maryland's assistant director. She has been with the organization for two decades. "We've always had a problem providing adequate service to our members because we have been so underfunded. This empowers employees."
The union brings in about $4.7 million per year in dues, an amount that is likely to double under the new fee structure.
Maryland joins the District of Columbia and at least 22 other states, including Pennsylvania and Delaware, in allowing state employee unions to collect such service fees.
Beginning in mid-July, employees represented by AFSCME will have an amount between $10.80 and $14.96 deducted automatically from their biweekly paychecks.
AFSCME officials say they did not implement the fee structure last year because employees were saddled with pay freezes and unpaid days off. Republican lawmakers see another motive in the timing: O'Malley was up for re-election last year, and the new fee could have angered thousands of potential voters.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-07-04/news/bs-md-union-fees-expand-20110704_1_union-fees-afscme-maryland-sue-esty