Governor Moore Kicks Off First Labor Relations Roundtable with Local Union Leaders

Published: 9/4/2024

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today delivered remarks at the first labor relations roundtable, reinforcing the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to making Maryland more competitive and strengthening partnerships with the state’s labor unions. The Governor was joined by the Moore-Miller Administration’s Labor Relations Senior Director Dyana Forester; Maryland Department of Labor Secretary of Labor Portia Wu; Maryland Department of Labor Commissioner of Labor and Industry Devki Virk; and more than 50 union leaders and representatives at the roundtable in Landover.

“Maryland is strong because our unions are strong, and today marks an important step forward in our efforts to build a state that leaves no one behind,” said Gov. Moore. “The Labor Relations Roundtable will allow our administration to work more closely with our unions to create new jobs, ensure fair pay, and advance solutions that benefit Marylanders across our state. Together, we will continue to do the people’s business, in partnership.”

The quarterly labor relations roundtable will facilitate direct engagement between the administration’s leadership and union members, promoting a more collaborative approach to tackling issues and challenges. Roundtables will be facilitated by Labor Relations Senior Director Dyana Forester, who was appointed by Governor Moore earlier this year to oversee labor-management initiatives and advise on labor relations matters affecting Maryland's workforce.

Following remarks, Governor Moore recognized the dedication and leadership of nine union members:

Darlene Butler-Jones - United Food & Commercial Union Local 400
John J Carroll, III - Ironworkers Local 5
Dolly Kidlee - SEIU Local 500
Johnny Zuagar - AFGE and President of AFGE Local 2782
James Ray - 1199SEIU
Antonio Pollard - ATU Local 689
Rayneika Robinson - President of AFSCME Local 3661
Todd Holden - President of AFSCME Local 1072

Working with union partners, the Moore-Miller Administration is reinforcing its commitment to fair wages, promoting labor rights, spurring workforce development and supporting Maryland’s working families.

During the 2023 legislative session, the Governor signed the Fair Wage Act of 2023, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour two years ahead of the original timeline. In partnership with the U.S Department of Labor and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Governor Moore also signed a three-year memoranda of understanding between the State of Maryland and Maryland’s four major civilian employee labor unions to help state employees receive fair pay and good benefits.

Additionally, the state secured $23 million in back pay for current and former state employees and approved a $9.5 million settlement to resolve wage theft claims for public safety employees.

More recently, Governor Moore signed the bipartisan PORT Act, in addition to signing an executive order to allocate $17.9 million to Port of Baltimore employees, all to support workers and businesses who lost work or income due to the reduction in port operations following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

Last month, Governor Moore and the Maryland Department of Labor announced nearly $23 million from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Building America initiative to connect more than 7,000 jobseekers to new apprenticeship opportunities. The funding will help participating organizations recruit underrepresented Marylanders—including women and people of color—fill registered apprenticeship programs in Maryland’s expanding industries, including health care, technology, and transportation.

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