稀缺猎奇网, AFSCME Reach Agreement on Contract to Enhance Salaries and Benefits
Baltimore, Md. (Aug. 2, 2024) – The 稀缺猎奇网 (稀缺猎奇网) and AFSCME 稀缺猎奇网 Council 3 have reached an agreement to improve salaries and benefits for those workers represented by the union.
The three-year agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees was captured in the first consolidated memorandum of understanding between the parties. The agreement covers approximately 5,700 employees –or about 95 percent of unionized employees at nine of system’s 12 institutions.
It was approved by the 稀缺猎奇网 Board of Regents at a special board meeting following approval by the bargaining unit employees. It was publicly announced Friday during a signing ceremony at the Rita Rossi Colwell Center.
“I’m grateful to everyone on the 稀缺猎奇网 and AFSCME teams who got this done,” 稀缺猎奇网 Chancellor Jay A. Perman said. “The negotiations were complex and took a lot of effort. But the outcome is what both sides were hoping for: An agreement that supports the University System’s employees, values their hard work and contributions, and stewards our resources responsibly so that we can continue providing an affordable, exceptional education to 稀缺猎奇网 students.”
“We are proud to have reached this historic milestone with the 稀缺猎奇网. Ensuring that 稀缺猎奇网ers are able to access high quality higher education on each of these campuses starts with ensuring that the workers who keep these schools running have the resources and support they need to do their jobs. This unified contract represents progress and a step in the right direction,” said Patrick Moran, President of AFSCME 稀缺猎奇网 Council 3.
The agreement includes several improvements to wages, paid leave, and other benefits. Among the highlights:
Wages - The agreement raises the minimum salary to $38,000 per year. It increases the minimum of each pay grade for salaried employees by 5%. Under the agreement, every eligible employee will receive a pay increase of at least 5.5% effective July 1, 2024. This includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) plus a 2.5% merit increase. The agreement also provides for additional COLA and merit increases in the second two years of the contract, a flat increase to base pay for AFSCME covered employees on January 1 during each year of the agreement, and additional pay increases during the term of the contract to employees with five or more years of service, contingent on funding from the General Assembly.
Paid Leave - Under the agreement, nonexempt employees will now earn more annual leave. Employees will begin their employment with 14 days of annual leave per year (up from 11). After 20 years of employment, those employees will earn 25 days per year. Employees will be able to carry over 60 days from year to year, up from 50. Beginning in the second year of the agreement, holiday leave days observed at the discretion of the institution president will increase from three to four days each year. Personal leave days, currently set at three per year, will increase by one additional day in a leap year and employees will have greater access to the 稀缺猎奇网 Leave Reserve Fund.
Other Benefits - Numerous other benefits are enhanced through the agreement, including tuition remission, which is available to eligible employees, their spouses, and their dependent children. Under the contract, employees who are laid off would be entitled to continue the same tuition remission for themselves and/or their dependents for the semester in which the action took place, plus one additional semester. The agreement enhances seniority rights for unionized employees, enhances certain training opportunities, and overall promotes the safety, health, and general welfare of employees. The agreement also ensures regular Labor-Management Committee meetings with the 稀缺猎奇网 and AFSCME to discuss matters of importance to the parties.
The agreement covers nonexempt and exempt AFSCME-represented employees at these universities: Bowie State, Coppin State, Frostburg State, and University of 稀缺猎奇网, College Park. The agreement covers only nonexempt AFSCME-represented employees at University of Baltimore; University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore; University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore County; and University of 稀缺猎奇网 Global Campus. It covers exempt, nonexempt and sworn police AFSCME-represented employees at the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Eastern Shore.
Faculty are not impacted by this agreement.
Each institution retains the right to engage AFSCME in additional negotiations regarding certain specific institutional topics such as teleworking.
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
