Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · 1d

In the upcoming 2026 Maryland State legislative session, Senators Jack Bailey and Will Smith plan to reintroduce Senate Bill 690, legislation to amend Maryland’s Police Officers and Probation Agents Scholarship Program - to include correctional officers. Read more: md.aft.org/legislative-...

The Push to Support Public Safety

In the upcoming 2026 Maryland State legislative session, Senators Jack Bailey and Will Smith plan to reintroduce Senate Bill 690, legislation to amend Maryland’s Police Officers and Probation Agents S...

md.aft.org

1

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · 1d

Congrats to United Academics of Maryland Community Colleges and to the faculty local at Hagerstown Community College on reaching tentative agreement with the admin. www.dcnewsnow.com/news/faculty...

www.dcnewsnow.com

2

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · 1d

“It really strengthens the education here at the college and provides students with more excellence in teaching when faculty are provided the resources that we need, and support that we need,” said Daniel Ryan, assistant professor at HCC and UAMD member. “It really helps our institution grow.”

1 1 1

Reposted by AFT Maryland

AFT @aft.org · 3d

TONIGHT at 7 PM! Join @hakeemjeffries-ac.bsky.social, @repstevenhorsford.bsky.social, @whipkclark.bsky.social, @rweingarten.bsky.social, @housedemocrats.bsky.social, & @endcitizensunited.bsky.social President Tiffany Muller for a talk about the GOP shutdown & Democrats' plan to save healthcare.

Shutdown Strategy Session · End Citizens United// Let America Vote Action Fund

Join Leader Jeffries, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Steven Horsford, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, President of AFT Randi Weingarten, members of the House Democratic Caucus and ECU Presiden...

www.mobilize.us

6 11

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · 5d

Happy PSRP Week! Check out AFT's toolkit for ways to celebrate the PSRPs at your school at @sharemylesson.bsky.social
sharemylesson.com/teaching-res...

1 1

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · 5d

After over a year of bargaining, faculty at Hagerstown Community College have secured a tentative agreement addressing the critical issues that drove organizing over a year and a half ago. We're so proud of the work of United Academics of Maryland Community Colleges and the chapter at Hagerstown!

Hagerstown Community College Faculty Secure Tentative Agreement for First-Ever Union Contract

After over a year of bargaining, faculty have secured a tentative agreement addressing the critical issues that drove organizing over a year and a half ago.

md.aft.org

1

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · 5d

youtu.be/OL-RI9a3eeY

Addressing the Federal Government Shutdown

YouTube video by Governor Wes Moore

youtu.be

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · 5d

The impacts of the federal shutdown are widespread. The state of Maryland website has a list of available supports including job placement services, virtual workshops, legal aid, veterans’ resources, and access to housing, food, and health coverage assistance. Find more info:

Maryland Workers Impacted by the Federal Government Shutdown

response.maryland.gov

1

Reposted by AFT Maryland

AFT @aft.org · 10d

NEW in Fall '25 #AFTHealthCare:
✊ @rweingarten.bsky.social on standing up for our democracy
🏥 @ofnhp.bsky.social @wsna.bsky.social & @oregonnursesassoc.bsky.social on the danger of staffing cuts
♿ @harvardmed.bsky.social on improving access for patients with disabilities

www.aft.org/hc/fall2025

8 12

Reposted by AFT Maryland

AFT @aft.org · 9d

“My message for the Republican party is to come back to the table. The American people are looking for affordable healthcare and access to healthcare.”

Ohio State University RN Catharyne Henderson explains why the #TrumpShutdown could spell disaster for patients. @oftunion.bsky.social

2 11 35

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · Sep 11

AFT Maryland President Kenya Campbell said, “We want to work with the administration to come up with a solution. But the faculty can't cut the checks, you know? Folks are not getting paid, and they still have bills to pay. The bills won't wait, but the pay is in limbo. It’s a major concern.”

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · Sep 11

United Academics of Maryland Community Colleges rallied at Baltimore City Community College on Tuesday in support of a fair contract, timely pay, and other worker issues.

Baltimore City Community College faculty march for fair pay and staffing relief

Chants, signs and unpaid summer wages fuel growing tension with leadership.

www.wypr.org

1

Reposted by AFT Maryland

AFT @aft.org · Sep 10

🚨In a new survey of 700 AFT members, 49.5% say they anticipate needing to purchase food for their students this year—and even before the cuts to SNAP in Trump's #BigUglyBill take effect in 2028.

Read more from the survey & share⬇️

AFT Survey Shows Teachers Are Spending Hundreds Out of Pocket on Food for Kids, Classroom Supplies

WASHINGTON—The AFT today released a new national survey that shows a substantial number of educators anticipate needing to buy food for hungry students this year, as most continue to spend more than $...

www.aft.org

1 33 38

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · Sep 2

Unions matter because #WorkersDeserve:
✊Fair pay
✊Safe working conditions
✊Affordable healthcare
✊A dignified & secure retirement
✊Fully funded public schools
✊The right to join strong unions
✊A democracy where every voice is heard & every vote counts!

@aft.org #1union

4

Reposted by AFT Maryland

Randi Weingarten 🖇️📚✊🇺🇸 @rweingarten.bsky.social · Sep 2

Voters wanted lower costs, better healthcare, more professional opportunities, and a stronger voice on the job. Trump has betrayed those hardworking Americans, but unions will never give up on creating opportunity for everyone to thrive.
youtu.be/YC4LMHgPArc

Labor Day 2025 Interview with AFT President Randi Weingarten

YouTube video by AFT

youtu.be

1 21 97

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · Sep 1

Happy Labor Day! Throughout the long history of this holiday and labor movement, we have seen workers flooding the streets advocating for improved rights for working people. The labor movement has seen countless victories accomplishing just that for workers across this country. READ MORE:

Standing Together on Labor Day

As the Summer comes to an end, the weather begins to cool and the leaves begin to change, we get to celebrate our holiday – Labor Day.Throughout the long history of this holiday and labor movement, we...

md.aft.org

Reposted by AFT Maryland

AFT @aft.org · Aug 28

Back-to-school time means first-day jitters, new class schedules & reuniting with friends you’ve missed all summer—but this year, it also means fear among educators & families who live in immigrant communities.

@utlanow.bsky.social @cftunion.bsky.social @floridaea.bsky.social @ctulocal1.bsky.social

Back-to-school joy is tempered by fear

Back-to-school time means first-day jitters, new class schedules and reuniting with friends you’ve missed all summer—but this year, it also means fear among educators and families who live in immigran...

www.aft.org

6 7

Reposted by AFT Maryland

Randi Weingarten 🖇️📚✊🇺🇸 @rweingarten.bsky.social · Aug 28

How tragic that this country’s leaders refuse to come together and make decisions to protect children and teens from their leading cause of death: firearms. What kind of a country allows kids to be shot up in their schools, over and over again? www.aft.org/press-releas... @abbeyclements.bsky.social

AFT’s Weingarten and Teachers Unify’s Abbey Clements Respond to Minnesota Shooting

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten and Abbey Clements, executive director of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence and a survivor of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, issued the foll...

www.aft.org

7 55 130

Reposted by AFT Maryland

Share My Lesson @sharemylesson.bsky.social · Aug 21

✊ Why do unions still matter?
In this 50min lesson, students compare the 1937 Flint sit-down strike w today’s aerospace walkouts
✔️ Source analysis
✔️ Argument writing
✔️ Ready-to-use deck + printables
sharemylesson.com/teaching-res... @aft.org @texasaft.org @aftteach.bsky.social @ctulocal1.bsky.social

5 9

Reposted by AFT Maryland

AFT @aft.org · Aug 25

📉 Vouchers. Budget cuts. Federal attacks on the Department of Education.

All of these schemes have one thing in common: they strip resources from kids and weaken public schools.

Public education isn’t a luxury, it’s a promise. And we’re fighting to keep that promise alive.

More from @epi.org ⬇️

U.S. investment in public education is at risk: Vouchers, state budget austerity, and federal attacks on the Department of Education threaten children’s futures

Weak public K–12 education spending in the U.S. and the rising trend of Republican attacks on public schools threaten our children’s futures. The last decade has seen a flurry of high-quality studies ...

www.epi.org

1 27 39

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · Aug 21

A federal judge in Maryland says the United States Department of Education (DOE) cannot require states and school districts to certify compliance with the Trump Administration's anti-discrimination policies, namely when it comes to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Maryland judge says Dept. of Education can't require schools to certify compliance with feds anti-DEI policies

Back in February DOE issued a letter to school districts ordering certified compliance, or else risk losing federal funding.

www.wmar2news.com

1

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · Aug 21

"From K-12 schools in our most vulnerable communities to our higher education institutions, this is a resounding victory for the public education our educators stand up for every day.” 🔗3/3

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · Aug 21

“Today’s ruling makes it clear that, regardless of President Trump’s wishes and endless attacks, our public education system will continue to meet the diverse needs of every student—from teaching true history to providing critical resources..." 🔗2/3

1

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · Aug 21

“From the beginning, we have been clear that this directive from Trump’s Department of Education is an unlawful overreach that threatens the education of all Maryland’s students,” said AFT Maryland President Kenya Campbell.
www.aft.org/press-releas... 🔗1/3

AFT and AFT-Maryland Respond to Court’s Rejection of Trump’s Unprecedented Assault on Public Education

BALTIMORE—AFT President Randi Weingarten and AFT-Maryland President Kenya Campbell issued the following statements after the U.S.

www.aft.org

1

AFT Maryland @aftmaryland.bsky.social · Aug 21

For that reason, President Milliken and the Regents should exhaust all legal remedies, refuse all concessions, and resist illegal acts by the Trump administration. We call on them to stabilize funding for research AND teaching in UC!

Take Action: actionnetwork.org/letters/hold...

HOLD THE LINE: Stand Strong Against Attacks on Education

Last week, the Trump administration made it official: they are coming after the University of California. It is imperative that in their response to this attack, UC leaders negotiate with the knowle...

actionnetwork.org