Across the state thousands of AFSCME MD members wore “WE DEMAND DIGNITY” buttons to show our support for our Bargaining Team and we are making a difference in negotiations. We have reached tentative agreements on over a dozen workplace improvements. 

Click here for a list of our Bargaining Team representatives.

17 AFSCME bargaining team members within the University System of Maryland’s Non-Exempt Coalition met twice in the third week of December, 2008 with representatives from the USM to reach an agreement over a furlough plan. The aim of these negotiations was to lessen the financial impact of the furlough plan on bargaining unit employees. As a result of these negotiations bargaining unit employees within the USM Coalition will take fewer furlough days than MD State workers, and some employees under $30,000 will be exempt from having to face any loss of pay.

Higher Education members were able to negotiate a less harmful plan than the State partly because Higher Education Institutions were able to yield significantly more savings from highly compensated faculty and research positions. With a top heavy staff, the progressive tiered approach allowed for some leeway for lower wage earners.

Institutions within the USM Coalition include: Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Frostburg State University, University of Baltimore, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore and the University of Maryland University College. See details of the agreement.