Since our last bargaining update, we have had the following bargaining sessions with the University System of Maryland (USM): November 20 and 21 at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) campus, November 28 at the AFSCME Maryland offices in Baltimore, and December 1 at the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute in College Park.
The USM bargaining team is composed of administrators from each of the USM schools as well as outside private lawyers hired by the USM, while the AFSCME Maryland bargaining team is composed of AFSCME members who work at each of the different USM campuses across the state.
“The USM has had it their way for so long that they don’t want to give up anything. They don’t believe that we deserve anything. But we as workers are united by principles and not by money. We are about unity and transparency across the system. It’s unfortunate that the USM doesn’t think we should have a say.”
Todd Holden
Senior Web Services Developer, University of Maryland College Park
AFSCME Local 1072
The bargaining sessions have been very contentious as the USM team continues to slow walk the process. They continue to oppose our efforts to work together and have hired a law firm, BakerHostetler, known for their anti-union work.
Below are some of our priorities that remain outstanding in our negotiations:
- Wages
- Overall, we are still far apart. The USM has not put into writing a coherent and funded wage proposal.
- Holiday pay for staff who work on a designated holiday
- Contractual Employees
- Converting contractual staff to permanent employment with the same rights, benefits, and protections that permanent employees enjoy
- Health and Safety
- Relocation and medical attention in situations of extreme temperatures in work areas, including outdoors
- Leave
- Accruing annual leave for non-exempt staff
- Expanding personal leave
- Expanding leave for religious observances
- Access to sick leave bank
- Union Rights
- Ensuring proper representation on campus so that our contract and workplace rights are respected and enforced
- Increase number of shop stewards every campus can have
- Other Issues
- Providing childcare subsidies for employees
- Addressing inconsistencies in benefits across the different campuses and ensuring all campuses have access to robust benefits
We enter each session of negotiations wanting to work towards the best outcome for all USM system employees. The AFSCME Maryland team will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to win a strong unified contract. We are headed towards the fact-finding process, which would allow a third party to review both sides’ proposals.
“We are working hard to come to an agreement, but the USM has tried to change everything that we have proposed. We have to live by this contract, but USM management does not. We are working every day, day in and day out, to both do our jobs and get to an agreement. Sadly, the USM management team continues to nitpick everything, preventing us from accomplishing anything.”
Angie Webb
Custodial Technician, University of Maryland Baltimore
AFSCME Local 1839
Our union siblings who work for Morgan State University, the City of Takoma Park, and the City of Baltimore have all recently won contracts with record raises and expanded benefits and protections. These bargaining processes are testaments to what we can win when we are united in advocating for what we deserve.
Our next bargaining sessions will be taking place this Thursday, December 7 and Friday, December 8. We will keep everyone updated on what actions we can take to win the contract we deserve.
If you are not an AFSCME member yet, you can become one here. Every person who joins strengthens our movement towards winning a fair contract, and what we are able to win directly depends on the number of union members we have. If you care about things like wages, benefits, leave, working conditions, and more for yourself and your coworkers, join our union now!
If you are already an AFSCME member but would like to get more involved, you can email info@afscmemd.org to let us know. We have a number of upcoming opportunities to get involved in the 2024 Legislative Session.