The recent decision by Mayor Randy Taylor and City Councilmembers April Jackson, Melissa Holland, and Sharon Deshiell to repeal collective bargaining rights for Salisbury city workers, firefighters, and police officers is one of the most consequential labor decisions our city has seen in years.
Now, Salisbury residents have an opportunity to decide for themselves whether that decision should stand. That is why I am launching a petition drive to place this issue on the ballot and allow us, the voters of Salisbury, to have the final say.
This is not an abstract political debate. It is about real people, real families, and the future of public services in our city.
I think about firefighters like Brandon Records, who has spent more than 18 years putting his life on the line to protect Salisbury residents. Like many city employees, he could have taken higher-paying jobs elsewhere. He could have left for jurisdictions that offer better compensation and stronger workplace protections.
Instead, he chose Salisbury. He chose to serve our community.
Workers like Brandon are the reason our city functions every day. They are the people who respond when homes catch fire, when medical emergencies occur, and when disaster strikes. They are joined by police officers, public works employees, and countless others who keep our city operating.
Their work affects every resident in Salisbury and many throughout all of Wicomico County. City firefighters and police routinely respond to emergencies outside city limits. Public works employees maintain the infrastructure we rely on every day. City staff help organize community events that bring people together and support local businesses.
When Salisbury struggles to recruit and retain employees, everyone feels the consequences. The reality is that Salisbury already faces serious workforce challenges.
Multiple city positions remain vacant. Our police department has faced staffing shortages severe enough to require shifting personnel away from investigative work to maintain patrol coverage. Fire departments throughout the region compete for qualified firefighters, and many trained professionals leave for communities that offer better pay and benefits.
Collective bargaining did not create these problems.It was one of the best tools workers had to address them.
Since its adoption, City employees have used collective bargaining to advocate for fair compensation, safer working conditions, and a stronger voice in decisions affecting their jobs. Removing that voice does not solve recruitment challenges. It does not improve retention. It does not make Salisbury more competitive as an employer and it makes our city less safe.
In fact, there are zero jurisdictions in Maryland that have proposed eliminating collective bargaining rights as a solution to workforce or budget challenges. The failure to grow our city and manage our economy by a handful of local politicians shouldn’t be taken out on our first responders and city workers.
This decision should rest solely in the hands of the people of Salisbury and that is what this petition drive is about.
So I ask every registered voter in the City of Salisbury, whether you support or oppose collective bargaining to sign this petition before the July 6th at 4:30 deadline.
There are a few ways you can sign. The Cannon Building is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. for walk-in signatures. We also knock on doors throughout the city every day.
This petition is about standing with the firefighters who respond when your house is on fire, the police officers who answer emergency calls, and the city employees who keep Salisbury running. Most importantly, it is about preserving the right of Salisbury residents to decide the future of their city.
Now the question is simple: Will you do your part and sign?
Jared Schablein
Salisbury Resident District 3
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
