“Keep the Promise” Rally Draws Big Crowd to Annapolis

Wielding signs and clanking cowbells, throngs of union employees poured into Annapolis Monday evening to march against pension-reform plans sponsored by Gov. Martin O’Malley and the General Assembly.

In fact, state employees arrived by the busloads—5,000 to 10,000 of them by 6 p.m.—at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium. From there, local police shut down several streets leading to the State House, where the group concluded its three-quarter mile march.  

“The biggest concern is that if the public workers in Maryland aren’t adequately compensated, we might not be able to retain the sort of quality teachers that we want,” said

Lawrence, who helped organize a free bus ride from to Annapolis, also called the rally an important opportunity to stave off deep cuts in school programs in Prince George’s County.

“Stop stealing teacher pensions,” read one sign, while another asked the question: “Why threaten teachers? We made you rich.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of other signs matched the crowd’s chants and slogan to “Keep the promise! Keep the Promise! Keep the Promise!”

Keeping that promise would mean rolling back O’Malley’s proposal to save some $100 million by upping each state employee’s pension contributions. The measure would also impact new hires, whose retirement age would be pinned at 60, up from 55.

“Your proposals are inadequate and inequitable,” said a fired-up Rick Tyler, who co-chairs the PTA council in Prince George’s County.

Tyler, who spoke before the crowd, aimed his words directly at legislators and O’Malley, who showed up at the event’s conclusion to express reservations with the state budget as is.

Tami Morningstar, who works at the Department of Social Services in Baltimore, was even more direct.

“I am in an abusive relationship with the state of Maryland,” she told the crowd.

Morningstar said she was promised three things by the state when she was hired decades ago—a living wage, reasonable medical-care coverage and a pension. The current proposal reneges on that promise, she said.

“Shame on you,” was her message to Maryland lawmakers.

Many in the audience struck similar chords.

“As a teacher, I kept my promise, so it’s time for the government to keep theirs,” said Imani Oba, who teaches history at a middle school in Bowie. “I simply can’t take another [financial] hit.”

Others, such as John Eggleston, who teaches JROTC courses at Bowie High School, agreed. 

“I didn’t fight hard five years ago to allow these pension changes,” he said. “I want to keep the retirement system the way it is.”

Amid the state’s $35 billion shortfall in unfunded pension costs and health liabilities, O’Malley’s proposal would require employees to front about 7 percent of their pay to the pension system. That’s about 1.5 percent more than the current rate, and would help ensure no change to each employee's pension.

The rally also drew in a small yet colorful contingent of “Code Stink” counter-protesters, many of whom sported pig snouts and signs supporting deeper cuts.

“I’m fed up,” said Ida Hopkins, a nurse from Mitchellville.

In light of Maryland’s budget woes, Hopkins called the march—and the political money behind it—troubling. “I do not support paying more to support their needs and desires.”

Kay Cadette, who teaches special education in Prince George’s County, begged to differ.

“It’s not just about the teachers and pensions,” she said while marching along Herbert Sachs Blvd. “It’s about the children.”

On this point, some marchers alluded to the state’s plans to underfund the Thornton Formula. Passed in 2002, the bill was meant to narrow achievement gaps between counties by directing more funds to poorer areas with higher student enrollment rates.

Yet because of its shrinking base of students, Prince George’s County stands to receive $21 million less than last year. That number represents about 13.5 percent of the county’s $155 million budget gap, and could save several school programs and teaching positions that may be nixed under Superintendent William R. Hite Jr.’ s fiscal 2012 budget.

The rally, which lasted two hours, featured thousands of union employees from both the Maryland State Education Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Timothy Mennuti, an event organizer and president of the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County, estimated there to be “easily 10,000” marchers in attendance.