AFSCME Maryland members are standing together with community allies to protect and fully fund the vital public services state employees provide. AFSCME Maryland members are the dedicated front-line workers in our state hospitals, state highways, correctional facilities and other state offices that keep Maryland moving.
During his time in office, Governor Hogan has acted to systematically de-fund and under resource state services and state employees. Maryland’s most vulnerable residents aren’t getting the services they need. Thousands of jobs are unfilled. This only exacerbates serious problems with crime, safety and health in the State. State workers are committed to their jobs and their clients, but dangerously low staffing makes it unsafe for staff, clients and surrounding communities.
- The Department of Legislative Services (DLS) reviewed laws, rules, regulations, caseload standards, and best practices related to agency staffing and can quantify the need for 2,631 positions (1,126 new authorized positions and the need to fill 1,505 existing positions) in 11 agencies.
- Maryland is ranked nineteenth in population, on a per capita basis, but ranks thirty-second in the number of State and local employees per 10,000 population.
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The State of Maryland is expected to spend at least $239.1 million in overtimecosts in fiscal 2020, with more than half of that amount attributable to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) ($122 million). Given that actual overtime spending in fiscal 2018 totaled over $255 million and vacancy rates for DPSCS and several other key agencies have continued to increase, it is likely that the fiscal 2020 allowance for overtime spending is underfunded continuing a pattern of diverting resources from residents of Maryland.
What is the solution? AFSCME Maryland has a plan and we're joining together with residents and community allies to fight for a better Maryland!
Our solution to the staffing crisis:
- Safer Workplaces
- Competitive Wages
- Better Personnel Policies
- Improved Hiring Practices
- Increased Legislative Oversight