State workers in Maryland deserve raises, an arbitrator recommended recently. AFSCME Maryland, which represents the workers, pointed out that while Maryland ranks fifth in personal income nationwide, it's 29th in state employee pay raises, contributing to short staffing, low pay and Maryland’s difficulty in employee recruitment and retention. The arbitrator recommended a raise, two step increases, the right to convert personal leave to annual or comp leave, if denied, $2/hour shift differential pay and equal pay to new hires for AFSCME members. "Our next step is to convince the Governor and the General Assembly to adopt the recommendations," the union says. "We need to bring the victory all the way home!"
photo courtesy Baltimore Sun
photo courtesy Baltimore Sun