compensation and benefits

• Opinion

BSO management is coercing musicians to take a bad contract

The management of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is unnecessarily coercing its musicians.

• Maryland

Kirwan funding supports average 5% salary increase for Harford teachers

Harford County teachers will receive a roughly 5% salary increase next year, thanks to additional funding from the state's Kirwan Commission.

By David Anderson

Jun 28, 2019

• Opinion

Like water, health care is a basic need denied to many Baltimoreans

Water has been restored to Poe Homes but the health care needs of many low-income Baltimore residents are still not being met.

• News

Veteran Baltimore Police officer who has been among department's top overtime earners is suspended

Baltimore Police officer Julie Pitocchelli, who has more than doubled her salary with overtime has recently been suspended,

By Jessica Anderson

Jun 20, 2019

• Education

'A caste system of education': Baltimore's vocational programs fail to equitably open doors, audit finds

Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Sonja Santelises said the findings demonstrate that the district is failing students.

By Talia Richman

Jun 17, 2019

• Maryland

Editorial: Carroll County teacher salaries far more competitive after new agreement

The starting salary for Carroll County teachers will now be $48,000, up from $45,787. Superintendent Steve Lockard called that “very competitive.” He’s right.

• News

As Baltimore police commissioner orders cop's arrest and drops charges against a bystander, union cries foul

Baltimore police commissioner Michael Harrison has ordered the arrest of a sergeant over an incident with a bystander, and the police union has fired back.

• Entertainment

'I just want to work': BSO musicians say threatened job cuts could disrupt lives, jeopardize needed healthcare

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians are facing numerous challenges in the wake of the news that the summer season may be cancelled.

By Mary Carole McCauley

Jun 5, 2019

• Opinion

Robert B. Reich: The gig is up

Robert Reich: The jobs problem today isn't just stagnant wages, it's also uncertain incomes.

• Opinion

Johns Hopkins should stop suing poor people

Johns Hopkins is under scrutiny once again for taking the most financially-strapped patients to court over unpaid medical debt.

• Politics

Maryland General Assembly bill tracker: What happened with key legislation

Check the status of bills that would establish a $15 minimum wage, let school boards decide whether to start classes after Labor Day, ban the use of plastic foam, and other measures.

• Opinion

Money for nothing: What Baltimore is paying Pugh and aides not to work

Thanks to the growing list of people put on leave during Mayor Catherine Pugh's absence, Baltimore is paying $1,600 a day for people not to work.

• Politics

Maryland Gov. Hogan vetoes bills on $15 hourly wage, pre-Labor Day school start, Franchot's enforcement powers

Gov. Larry Hogan has vetoed three bills passed by state lawmakers that would have increased the state's hourly minimum wage to $15, allowed local school districts to decide when the academic year starts, and moved alcohol and tobacco enforcement to a new commission.

By Pamela Wood

Mar 27, 2019

• Business

Kevin Plank earned $6.6 million last year, Under Armour reports

Under Armour CEO and chairman Kevin Plank earned $6.6 million last year, with the value of that compensation totaling about half that amount, Under Armour reported.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Mar 27, 2019

• Opinion

Earned income tax credit should be funded with a tax on businesses

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• Opinion

Pitts: A moral issue we should all worry about

Leonard Pitts Jr.: There is an object lesson in the college admissions scandal beyond disgust.

• Politics

Maryland lawmakers give final OK to increase minimum wage to $15 an hour

Maryland’s lawmakers have agreed on the details of how to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, allowing the measure to move to Gov. Larry Hogan, who opposes such a significant increase.

By Pamela Wood

Mar 20, 2019

• Politics

Gov. Hogan proposes raising Maryland's minimum wage to $12.10, instead of $15

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is proposing raising the state’s minimum wage to $12.10 an hour, instead of a $15 hourly wage backed by state Democratic leaders.

• Maryland

Maryland House of Delegates approves bill to raise state's hourly minimum wage to $15 by 2025

The Maryland House of Delegates has approved a bill that would gradually increase the state's minimum wage from $10.10 per hour to $15 an hour in 2025. The debate now moves to the Senate, which has not yet taken action.

By Pamela Wood

Mar 1, 2019

• Sports

Schmuck: Bryce Harper got more money, Manny Machado got higher salary and it all makes sense

Bryce Harper's 13-year, $330 million give him the richest guaranteed contract in baseball history, but Manny Machado got the higher average salary. So who won?

By Peter Schmuck

Feb 28, 2019

• Maryland

Sen. Bob Cassilly: Push for $15 minimum wage brings complex issues

Sen. Bob Cassilly says the push to increase the minimum wage in Maryland to $15 an hour raises issues that are more complex than suggested by the advocates’ simple plea that everyone is entitled to an annual living wage of $31,000 from the moment they start their first job.

• Sports

The Ravens can't duplicate the Patriots' dynasty, but they can learn from it. Here's how.

If the Ravens want to build on last season’s playoff run, they can look to the Patriots for blueprints.

By Jonas Shaffer

Feb 8, 2019

• Politics

Baltimore police commissioner pick's contract comes with higher salary, but more ways for a mayor to fire him

Baltimore’s spending board has approved a 5-year contract for the incoming police commissioner. The deal gives him valuable perks and a far higher salary than his predecessors, but at also makes him easier to fire. Michael Harrison would make $275,000 a year. He starts Monday.

By Ian Duncan

Feb 6, 2019

• Opinion

All Americans deserve to retire

In this time of stark divisions, more than three-quarters of both Republicans and Democrats support the concept of a guaranteed retirement account  (GRA) — an account into which employers and employees make modest, regular deposits that grow into a reliable nest egg.

• News

Amid Baltimore's persistent violence, police department failing to fill 500 patrol officer positions

The Baltimore Police Department is not only failing to fill vacant patrol positions in the face of steady street violence, which officials have called a priority, but suffered a net loss of 36 sworn officers in 2018 — hiring 184 officers but losing 220, data obtained by The Baltimore Sun show.

By Kevin Rector

Feb 6, 2019

• Politics

Support grows for raising Maryland's minimum wage, but not all agree. Debate could focus on how much — and where

A battle is shaping up in Annapolis over whether — and by how much — to increase Maryland’s minimum wage. Advocates want a bill passed that will raise it to $15 for everyone. Opponents, including groups representing small businesses, hope to block an increase — or at least soften its impact.

By Pamela Wood

Jan 25, 2019

• Opinion

Minimum wage not meant to raise families

Minimum wage is meant for people entering the work force, not to raise entire families.

• Politics

Maryland Gov. Hogan expresses concern increasing state's minimum wage could chase away businesses

As Maryland lawmakers got back to work, Gov. Larry Hogan expressed doubts about the wisdom of increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour. Hogan questioned whether raising it would put Maryland at a disadvantage for attracting businesses. He noted that Virginia’s minimum wage is $7.25.

By Pamela Wood

Jan 9, 2019

• Politics

Maryland General Assembly opens with optimism, ceremony as legislators take office for four years

With spouses and children by their sides, Maryland's 188 lawmakers were sworn into office. While lawmakers are expected to hash out tricky issues over the next 90 days, the first day was largely reserved for celebration and optimism.

• Politics

State says hundreds more Marylanders have applied for unemployment insurance related to federal government shutdown

Hundreds more Marylanders are seeking unemployment insurance benefits related to the federal government shutdown. As the funding impasse reached its 12th day Wednesday, the state said it's received 462 such benefit applications from Dec. 22 through Dec. 31.

By Jeff Barker

Jan 2, 2019

• News

Plea deal sheds new light on former Baltimore police commissioner De Sousa's tax crimes

De Sousa was charged in May with three misdemeanor counts of failing to file federal tax returns. He resigned one week later.

By Tim Prudente

Dec 18, 2018

• Opinion

Robert B. Reich: Trump takes on General Motors (and guess who wins?)

Robert Reich: GM's shareholder-first focus reveals problems in Donald Trump's America-first economic policy.

• Politics

New Baltimore police commissioner could be paid $260,000 — a significant increase, mayor says

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh said she expects the city's new police commissioner could be paid about $260,000 — a 25 percent increase compared with what previous commissioners have made. The salary would make Joel Fitzgerald among the best paid city employees.

By Ian Duncan

Nov 29, 2018

• Maryland

Harford schools face wider $35 million funding gap in next budget, superintendent says

All things being equal, Harford County Public Schools would need almost $35 million in additional funding to operate during the next school year in 2019-20 — an increase almost certain not to happen — Superintendent Dr. Sean Bulson said.

By Allan Vought

Nov 28, 2018

• Maryland

Commentary: 'Medicare for All'? A grim prognosis

Now that Democrats are poised to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives in January, taxpayers can expect a major push to achieve the "progressive"

• Business

Amazon's $15 an hour wage hike could pressure other retailers and employers

Amazon’s move to boost its U.S. workers’ minimum wage to $15 per hour next month could put pressure on large retailers and other employers to follow with similar increases, especially amid a tight labor market where job openings often outnumber applicants.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Oct 2, 2018

• Politics

Once again, most highly paid Baltimore employees are police officers

Once again, most of Baltimore’s highest paid employees are police officers. Surging police overtime expenses in fiscal year 2018 meant that 40 of the 50 highest-paid city employees work for the police department — including seven of the top 10.

By Luke Broadwater

Sep 26, 2018

• Opinion

Robert B. Reich: Conditions are ripe for another economic crash

Robert Reich: We're careening toward the same sort of crash we had in 2008, and possibly as bad as 1929.

• Maryland

Ramesh Ponnuru: Stagnating wages don't tell the whole story

The average wage earned in America has been stagnating for four decades, according to the Pew Research Center. It's a shocking finding. Thankfully, there are

• Politics

Hogan defends record on prison system, seeking to counter 'misinformation'

Gov. Larry Hogan has sent a letter to Maryland corrections officers defending is record on running the state prison system.

By Michael Dresser

Aug 10, 2018

• Health

Maryland's male doctors earn 50 percent more than females, survey finds

A new survey shows a wide pay gap between the state's male and female physicians.

By Sarah Meehan

Aug 1, 2018

• Opinion

$24 billion for single payer in Maryland sounds like a lot — until you consider how much we spend now

The kind of single-payer health care plan Ben Jealous is proposing would be expensive, but so is the status quo.

• Education

University of Maryland system chief Caret earned nearly $800,000 in fiscal year 2017

The head of the University System of Maryland received nearly $800,000 in compensation for fiscal year 2017. That included a controversial, one-time $75,000 bonus.

By Christina Tkacik

Jul 16, 2018

• Maryland

County Commissioner, District 5 candidate: Frank Robert, Republican

County Commissioner, District 5 candidate: Frank Robert, Republican

• Sports

Maryland football OC Matt Canada to make $650,000 annually; other contract details released

The salary marks a pay cut from what he earned at LSU.

By Jonas Shaffer

Apr 5, 2018

• News

Jury convicts Baltimore Police lieutenant of taking unearned pay while at home on Eastern Shore

A Baltimore jury convicted a city police lieutenant who prosecutors said was at home on the Eastern Shore when he was taking pay for overseeing the downtown casino district.

• Education

Baltimore city teachers' union ratifies 2.5 percent pay raise over two years

The Baltimore Teachers Union has voted to ratify new salary scales, endorsing a 2.5 percent pay raise for city teachers over the next two years.

By Talia Richman

Mar 26, 2018

• Health

Some Johns Hopkins nurses trying to unionize

Some nurses at the Johns Hopkins Hospital are attempting to form a union, saying that they are overworked, union officials said Monday.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Mar 19, 2018

• News

University of Maryland basketball coach Mark Turgeon highest-paid state employee

The Baltimore Sun's database on salaries of Maryland public employees shows that University of Maryland mens basketball coach Mark Turgeon is highest paid.

• Maryland

Building careers: Arbutus training program draws women to carpentry

The eight-week Sisters in the Brotherhood Pre-Apprenticeship Program prepares women for careers in carpentry, drawing them to a male-dominated industry.

By Libby Solomon

Mar 12, 2018