Dear Members,
I continue to hear from teachers and PSRPs about Health and Safety violations at your schools and worksites, and as I am visiting schools, I am able to see first hand conditions that should make all staff and families concerned. Please continue to do everything you can to keep yourselves and your students safe. I am pressing the district for answers to the many questions you are asking, and as they are forthcoming, I will be communicating them to you. This week the union and the district are continuing to meet to negotiate the district’s vaccine mandate for staff, and we have not yet reached agreement on many of the parts of our proposals. Finally, I am urging all BTU members to properly wear their masks in all schools and worksites, and please respect and follow all social distancing guidelines.
This week’s update is coming to you on Thursday because of Monday’s Labor Day Holiday, but the BTU Member Update will usually be sent out on Tuesdays. This week’s blast contains information about Teacher Contract Information Sessions, registration for the BTU Executive Board meeting later this week, a save the date for QuEST, as well as petitions from the Union of Concerned Scientists and a local group of parents who are demanding higher safety standards in Baltimore City Public Schools. There’s also a part-time job opportunity for our members with a social work license, and information about the Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival on September 18th.
Member Updates
- Please be advised that biweekly member dues will be increased by $0.21 to $48.32 starting September 17th, 2021 due to an annual per capita increase by AFT National.
- Please be advised that the modified dues rate will be increased by $0.10 to $24.27 starting September 17th, 2021 due to an annual per capita increase by AFT National.
- Due to increased safety concerns about potential COVID transmission, the BTU Holiday Party will not be held in 2021. The BTU Holiday Party is currently scheduled to resume in 2022.
BTU TEACHER CHAPTER CONTRACT INFORMATION SESSIONS
WATCH THE SEPTEMBER 9TH BTU EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING @ 6:30PM
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Attend the General Membership Meeting to cast your vote and get involved.
Click here to register: bit.ly/btugmm1
The Sept 27th General Membership Meeting will be a virtual webinar. Please register so your membership can be checked by Marisha Ingram, Membership Associate, and you will be sent the Zoom link so you can join the webinar. The email will be from “BTU Admin #2”. Check your spam folder!
General Membership Meetings will be held quarterly (Sept 27, Dec 6, Mar 7, June 6) from 5:30-7:30pm.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING FOR THIS WEBINAR IS SEPT 26TH AT 11:59PM.
NO REGISTRATIONS AFTER THIS DATE/TIME WILL BE CHECKED.
BALTIMORE PARENT PETITION TO BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL LEADERS
read the full petition and sign hereThe reopening horror stories from the southern United States with outbreaks on the first day of school, overwhelmed pediatric hospitals, and deaths of children within days of getting infected are there for all to see. Governor Hogan, Superintendent Choudhury, Mayor Scott, and Dr. Santelises, you have the authority to prevent such a situation in Baltimore City. We are anticipating vaccine approval for the 5-11 age group in the coming months. Until such time as all children can be vaccinated, we, parents of Baltimore City School Children, ask you to meet these demands immediately.
SIGN THE UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS’ PETITION AND TELL THE CDC TO COLLECT BETTER DATA ON BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS AND EMERGING VARIANTS.
In May, the agency stopped collecting data on breakthrough infections that don’t result in hospitalization, blinding us to the full implications of the Delta variant. The CDC’s continued failure to collect this data continues to put people at risk. Now that the science is clear on the dangers of the highly transmissible Delta variant, which is now the dominant strain in the United States, the CDC must do a better job of collecting data and staying on top of new developments. As our kids head back to school, ensuring that we have the correct data and science-based guidance is all the more critical.
To protect public health, the main thing we need to do is get more people vaccinated. However, we also need to collect essential data on COVID-19 cases and transmission so that we’re able to respond quickly to new developments with smart evidence-based policies.
BALTIMORE COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ITS 25TH YEAR
CCBC TEACHER (RE)CERTIFICATION INSTITUTE![]()
Fall 2021 ONLINE Courses
Enroll Today at https://www.ccbcmd.edu/
7-week, 10-week and 15-week options All Courses are 100% online!
FREE WELLNESS AND FITNESS CLASSES FOR BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STAFF
Full- and part-time employees have free access to Burnalong, a fitness platform that features thousands of live and on-demand fitness classes. The program also gives you the social motivation that will help you reach your health and wellness goals by sharing access with four friends or family members.
Click here to register and view Burnalong classes.
September 2021 – Suicide Prevention Awareness
You may have a friend or loved one who reaches a low point in life and wants to die by suicide.
Is there anything you can do to help?
Yes, there might be. It’s not an easy path to follow, but intervention by family and friends sometimes turns a person back toward positive thinking.
Your EAP is confidential, customized for your needs, and available at no cost to you.
1-866-529-8063 bcs.mybeaconwellbeing.com
For more resources, please visit Beacon’s Client Resources Page: Suicide Prevention Awareness
September Webinar – Kindness
Learn about the science behind kindness – and how to find ways to practice kindness in today’s world. See attached webinar invite for more information.
- Empower workers to form unions and bargain over wages and work conditions.
- Hold corporations accountable for union-busting.
- Repeal “right to work” laws, which were created during the Jim Crow era to divide Black and White workers.
- When we have strong unions, we have higher wages, safer working conditions and dignity for all people who work. Passing the PRO Act is our first step to getting there.
Do you have questions for President Diamonté Brown? Do you have a story that you want to share?
Are you curious about her-story? Want exclusive information? Let’s Talk!
LisTEN is a monthly Town Hall where a panel featuring up to TEN BTU members ask questions and share ideas stories, observations, affirmations, inspiration and thoughts. President Brown will answer your questions that you submit in the chat and comments during our TEN minute Lightning Round!
When you are interested in being a panelist , please contact Chris Bilal, PSRP Member Engagement Team Associate , at cbilal@baltu.org.
USE THIS BTU FORM TO REPORT HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS

As members volunteer and are mandated to work in person at school sites, the BTU has created an online reporting form in order to document positive and suspected COVID cases. This online reporting form can also be used to report:
- violations of the Teacher and PSRP Contracts
- violations of the MOU we recently negotiated to protect members, and
- violations of the District’s Safety and Health Guidelines.
This form is NOT meant to replace reported violations sent to supervisors, it is a supplement that will allow union membership a single, consistent, and safe place to report to BTU so that we are able to most efficiently and effectively support staff.
We will continue fighting for your safety whether you are working at home, or in a building whether voluntary or mandated. Please email info@baltu.org or your field rep if you have questions about how to fill out this form.