MD Unions Strategize, Prepare For "More Attacks"

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

"In light of today's economic losses in the state and around the country we will face not only more attacks on working people and their unions, but we will face more serious attacks on formerly blue or purple states that are now controlled by Republicans,” said Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Donna Edwards at yesterday’s legislative conference in Annapolis. Bracing for “tough battles” in the year ahead, almost 100 area labor leaders gathered to discuss Maryland’s 2011 legislative agenda, focusing on defensive measures to stop cuts to public workers’ pensions and healthcare benefits, as well as developing proposals to generate revenue. “We have to gear up and work together to protect ourselves against attacks on public sector employees, attacks on immigrants and ballot initiatives that attack labor,” added Edwards. Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley made an impromptu appearance, telling the leaders that “it’s going to be hard, but tough choices need to be made.” – report by Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO Assistant Political Coordinator Alya Solomon; photo of Maryland State House courtesy FairVote