Business Affairs / County News / Economic Development / Labor / MACo Testimony / News You Can Use
Maryland Adds 9,800 Jobs, Unemployment Rate Remains at 3.6%

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) last week released November's state jobs and unemployment data. According to the preliminary survey data, Maryland added 9,800 jobs last month. Maryland's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. Unemployment rates in November were lower in seven states, higher in five states, and stable in 38 states and the District of Columbia, according to the data. Seven states had jobless rate decreases from a year…

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December 22, 2019
Economic Development / General Assembly News / Labor / News You Can Use
Maryland Adds 10,700 Jobs, Unemployment Rate Ticks Down

Maryland added 10,700 jobs in October --  the second-most of any state, according to preliminary survey data released yesterday by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Maryland’s unemployment rate fell to 3.6% -- the lowest unemployment rate in over 11 years, according to the data. According to a press release: “Just over five years ago, our administration pledged to put more people back to work, grow the private sector, and turn…

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November 20, 2019
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Government Liability and Courts / Labor
Public Unions After Janus v. AFSCME: What’s Happening Around the U.S.?

In June of 2018, the United States Supreme Court ruled that public employees have a constitutional right to quit their union and stop paying dues in the Janus v. AFSCME decision. As National Employee Freedom Week is being celebrated this week, The Hill published an opinion piece on the ramifications of this legislative override and what is happening around the county. What is happening around the United States? New Jersey: The legislature passed the Workplace…

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August 21, 2019
Governor Hogan Announces New Deputy Chief of Staff
Diane Croghan (photo courtesy of Linkedin)
County News / Education / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / Labor / News You Can Use
Governor Hogan Announces New Deputy Chief of Staff

Governor Larry Hogan today announced the appointment of Diane Croghan to serve as deputy chief of staff in the Office of the Governor for labor, housing, education, human services, and health matters. Croghan succeeds Tiffany Robinson, who the governor recently appointed to be Maryland’s next secretary of labor. A veteran of county government, Croghan served as chief of staff to former Anne Arundel County Executive Steven R. Schuh from 2014-2018. According to a press release:…

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July 23, 2019
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues
U.S. House Approves $15 Minimum Wage

The U.S. House of Representatives today approved a bill to gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. The current federal minimum wage - which has not been raised since 2009 - is $7.25 per hour. The Maryland General Assembly this year passed House Bill 166/Senate Bill 280 (Chs. 10 and 11), legislation to phase in an increase in the State minimum wage to $15.00 per hour by January 1, 2025, with…

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July 18, 2019
County News / General Assembly News / Labor / News You Can Use
Governor Hogan Appoints Labor Secretary

Governor Larry Hogan today appointed Tiffany Robinson as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor. Robinson currently serves as deputy chief of staff in the Office of the Governor, where she advises on labor, housing, education, human services, and health matters. Robinson, who served as administrator of the Harford County Department of Housing and Community Development from 2010 to 2015, succeeds Acting Secretary James E. Rzepkowski, who will continue to serve as assistant secretary for…

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July 9, 2019
County Budgets / Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Summer Conference
Maryland Sheds Jobs, But Unemployment Rate Stable

The latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the US Department of Labor shows Maryland with a month-over-month loss of 1,200 jobs. The state's overall unemployment rate remained steady at 3.8%. Maryland has gained some 15,000 jobs over one year ago - so the short term downturn may not reflect a larger overall trend. However, most government revenues are substantially economy-dependent. The state personal income tax and sales tax are by far…

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June 24, 2019
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / General Assembly News / Labor
Maryland’s Minimum Wage Law, Explained

The Maryland General Assembly this year passed House Bill 166/Senate Bill 280 (Chs. 10 and 11), legislation to phase in an increase in the State minimum wage to $15.00 per hour by January 1, 2025, with a longer phase-in for employers with 14 or fewer employees. Unless the federal minimum wage is set at a higher rate, the State minimum wage for employers with 15 or more employees is as follows: • $11.00 per hour…

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May 28, 2019
County News / Education / Labor
Anne Arundel Board of Ed. Approves Bargaining Agreement

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education today approved a negotiated agreement for Fiscal Year 2020 with the Association of Educational Leaders (AEL), the bargaining unit which represents building administrators, coordinators, and special assistants. County Executive Steuart Pittman's proposed appropriation to the board of education, excluding debt service, increases by $46.2 million. This amount meets the State matching funds requirements known as Maintenance of Effort (MOE), provides full funding for pay packages as proposed by…

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May 15, 2019
Montgomery Council Indicates Support for Modified Union Contract
County Budgets / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor
Montgomery Council Indicates Support for Modified Union Contract

The Montgomery County Council, by a vote of 7-2, today adopted a resolution indicating its intent to approve the renegotiated collectively bargained contracts with the Municipal and County Government Employees’ Organization (MCGEO) and to fund the compensation and benefits provided in the agreements renegotiated by County Executive Marc Elrich for FY 2020. At its April 30 meeting on compensation and benefits for all agencies, the Council deferred a final decision on pay adjustments for County Government…

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May 14, 2019
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