ABOUT US
About us.....
Who Are We?
United WE MATTER is a volunteer organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the benefits and pensions of retired Maryland public sector employees. If you worked for local or state government in Maryland we know your story because it is our story too. State Retirees took a job with lower pay, endured furloughs, wage freezes, layoffs and more based on the certainty of receipt of benefits during retirement.
United WE MATTER is the brainchild of a retired Maryland state employee, Ken Fitch, who after being confronted with the elimination of his (and 90,000 other State retirees) prescription drug coverage decided to fight back to keep the benefits that he and other State retirees had earned during their long years of employment with the State of Maryland.
We Matter Rally - Annapolis
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
.
JOIN US
OUR HISTORY
​
In 2011, the State of Maryland eliminated prescription drug coverage for State retirees who were disabled or had reached the age of 65 or older. Maryland informed these state retirees in 2018 - Seven Years Later. In response, Ken Fitch created the WE MATTER RX Drug Coverage Group on Facebook, The group grew to over 3,000 members.
After being frustrated with the Legislative and Executive branches obvious attempts to defer the issue, Ken Fitch with three other state retirees, filed a complaint to stop the Enforcement of the law that eliminated their prescription drug coverage.
They were successful in obtaining an injunction and litigation continues.
Further research determined that States all over the country where eliminating benefits and reducing pensions of the elderly with impunity. Ken was determined that would not happen to Maryland State retirees and founded United We Matter to combat this trend.
"It always seems impossible until its done."
- Nelson Mandela
Ken Fitch, Founder and President of United We Matter.
Legislative Efforts continue.....
This effort by the State of Maryland to eliminate a well earned benefit was the beginning of state retirees' concern. What will they try to do next? And how will we stop them? What rights did State Retirees have to ensure the continuation of the benefits earned and paid for during their employment?
In response to those questions, Ken Fitch created United WE MATTER. United WE MATTER will be that mechanism State Retirees need to fight against any future threat to the benefits they earned. Our members are comprised of volunteer public sector retirees from the State of Maryland. Each volunteer retiree recognizes that it will be a battle to preserve what they have earned. The State has many weapons in its arsenal while waging war against its former employees. However, this does not deter United WE MATTER from waging this fight. We have the work ethic, the character and the determination to be victorious.
We are determined that lawmakers recognize that our years of service mattered, that our contributions to this State mattered, that now that we are in the twilight of our lives - WE MATTER.
UWM with Delegate Boteler - Maryland House of Delegates
The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”
- Hubert Humphrey