State workers' unions reaches tentative contract with Maryland

Gov. Hogan resumes mask requirement in state buildings

For the County Times
Posted 1/3/22

BALTIMORE — A few hours before the start of the new year AFSCME Maryland Council 3’s bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with the Hogan Administration for a new contract after …

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State workers' unions reaches tentative contract with Maryland

Gov. Hogan resumes mask requirement in state buildings

Posted

BALTIMORE — A few hours before the start of the new year AFSCME Maryland Council 3’s bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with the Hogan Administration for a new contract after months of negotiations.

The agreement provides for almost 12% in raises to frontline workers including social workers, nurses, direct care staff, correctional officers, highway workers, juvenile service workers, case managers, and many others.

AFSCME was also able to secure additional COVID-19 response pay and leave. The raises consist of a combination of step advancements and cost-of-living adjustments.

The agreements with AFSCME and MPEC Local 6197 — which represent approximately 23,000 state employees — signify the conclusion of annual negotiations, resulting in agreements with all state employee unions. Specifically, the agreements provide:

  • Jan. 1, 2022: a $1,000 bonus, a 1% cost of living adjustment (COLA), and a make-up increment of approximately 2% for employees who did not receive an increment in the past fiscal year;
  • July 1, 2022: a 3% COLA;
  • July 1, 2022: Regular increments of approximately 2% in FY 23; and
  • July 1, 2023: a 2% COLA.

Governor Larry Hogan called these “historic agreements with all of the unions, and I want to thank all hardworking state employees for their dedicated service.”

This announcement follows agreements reached with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance (SLEOLA), BWI Airport Firefighters Local 142, and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Healthcare in December.

To further protect employees a face covering requirement was reinstituted effective Jan. 3 for workers and visitors in all state buildings and leased space in all public or shared spaces.

Also provided is paid leave for booster shots to encourage them among state employees. The state will be providing two hours of paid leave for any employee who receives a booster. It will also apply retroactively: employees who present proof of receiving a booster will receive the leave.

The agreement is contingent on a vote of the 20,000 members in AFSCME Council 3. Union President Patrick Moran said, “The Hogan Administration continues to underfund state employees and state services despite Maryland’s significant surplus.”

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