Despite Setbacks Organized Labor Sticks with O'Malley

http://www.gazette.net/stories/11132...22_32523.shtml

"We certainly don't hold Governor O'Malley responsible for the state of the economy," said Fred D. Mason Jr., president of the Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO. "Unfortunately, he has had to make some hard choices."
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The head of the union that represents 70,000 state workers hopes that no news is good news. AFSCME Maryland Director Patrick Moran said Thursday he had not yet been notified of any pending reductions hurting state employees, and he normally would have heard something at this point.
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More recently, O'Malley succeeded in passing a so-called fair-share bill requiring nonunion members to pay dues to be represented by labor groups in contract negotiations. He also pushed through increases in penalties for employers who misclassify employees as independent contractors.

If the governor can build on that resume next year, he can alleviate criticism about the decisions to impose furloughs and lay off workers, said Sean Dobson, executive director of Progressive Maryland, an organization with strong ties to labor unions.

"He's built up a lot of credibility with the labor movement, and all it will take is one more good session for labor to be fired up and work hard for him for re-election," he said.
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Cuts to community service providers have been deeply troubling for members of SEIU Local 500, but O'Malley has used federal stimulus dollars wisely to avert more catastrophic budget actions, said Anna E. Oman, communications director for the group that represents 18,000 workers.

"We understand these are difficult times, but these are programs that have been underfunded even in good times," she said of the cuts to developmental disabilities programs. "It's time now to take a look at a systemic approach to fixing the structural problems of human services funding so that when times do improve we have a long-term solution that appropriately funds services for our most vulnerable."
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AFSCME Maryland members understand that the national recession has forced the governor's hand, even if that doesn't make it any easier to stomach, Moran said.
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BS PATRICK! Keep on sucking up to management and your days will be numbered in Maryland. The unions are making up excuses for what is happening when every single person on this forum knows that fruitless spending is a big part of it. I'm furious right now. When Patrick Moran speaks he is speaking on behalf of AFSCME and his over $100,000 salary, he is not speaking for that office clerk whose now forced to pay agency fees thanks to our management to a do nothing union who is kissing up instead of protecting workers and services.