Maryland state workers may get $1,000 bonus - union says it's not enough

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) - Maryland Governor Larry Hogan submitted a $74 million supplemental budget intended to give all state workers a $1,000 bonus.

The governor noted on Twitter that many state employees are front-line workers.

The governor said the bonuses were made possible by aggressive budget actions taken last year.

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In a news release, Gov. Hogan said:

This supplemental budget recognizes the hard work of our state employees, who have overcome significant challenges to deliver essential services to Marylanders during this public health emergency. We have been successful in weathering this storm without having to implement any layoffs or furloughs. I want to especially thank our front line workers, including police officers, healthcare workers, highway maintenance workers, and all of our dedicated public servants for their exceptional service.

The bonus payment would take effect on April 14 for most employees and April 21 for workers in the University of Maryland system.

The union representing state workers, however, says the $1,000 bonus is not enough. In a statement, theAFSCME says:

The Governor’s announcement today proves that the state was in stable financial condition despite the Governor’s attempt to cut our pay by 5%, cut healthcare and cut positions. The Governor praises himself for avoiding furloughs despite attempting and failing to unilaterally implement a significant package of cuts through the Board of Public Works this past July.

Last month, Governor Hogan submitted a $1.5 million supplemental budget focused on education. This proposal includes $966 million to support the safe reopening of public and nonpublic schools, $434 million in additional funding for nutrition assistance programs, and $128 million for child care. It also provides $9 million to support local health departments and $1 million for housing.

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Full statement from theAFSCME:

Governor Hogan’s Newly Announced Bonus is Not Enough

Today, Governor Hogan announced a $1,000 bonus for all state and higher education employees in Maryland. This will be helpful to the tens of thousands of Maryland state and higher education employees who have been working through the pandemic on the frontline under dangerous conditions with no acknowledgement from the Governor. This one-time bonus is not enough to compensate our members who are still waiting for access to the vaccine and risking their health and their family’s health by reporting to work every day.

The Governor’s announcement today proves that the state was in stable financial condition despite the Governor’s attempt to cut our pay by 5%, cut healthcare and cut positions. The Governor praises himself for avoiding furloughs despite attempting and failing to unilaterally implement a significant package of cuts through the Board of Public Works this past July.

President Patrick Moran said, “Up until the last days of December, negotiators for the Governor were still proposing furloughs and pay cuts to our members. We rejected these offers because our members deserve more for the dangerous but necessary work they do every day. This announcement doesn’t change the Governor’s actions over the past seven years, and especially in the last year of the pandemic, to cut state services to the bone and sacrifice our members safety to do so.

Maryland’s frontline workers have been facing the crises caused by the pandemic head on despite many state agencies having as much as a 13% vacancy rate. Whether our members are fighting the spread of the virus in our congregate care facilities or working to help process unemployment claims caused by COVID’s impact on the economy- our members are on the frontlines. Governor Hogan is failing to keep our members safe and failing to fund state agencies so they can perform our duties safely and effectively.”

Stuart Katzenberg

Director of Collective Bargaining and Growth

AFSCME Council 3