Maryland State Supervisors Join AFSCME Maryland: A New Era of Collective Bargaining

In a significant development for Maryland's public sector, nearly 5,000 state supervisors have joined AFSCME Maryland, Council 3, marking one of the largest expansions of collective bargaining rights in the state in decades. This new bargaining unit, made up of supervisory employees belonging to Unit S in agencies across the state, will now begin the process of bargaining their first union contract.

Walter Moore, Jr., a Security Attendant Supervisor at Springfield Hospital Center, expressed his enthusiasm for the unionization, stating, "We work alongside state employees who are working towards the same agency goals as we are but they had a stronger voice and a union contract to ensure their hard work was rewarded and respected. Now that we’ve certified our union, we can finally work on solutions like overtime pay, workload levels, and more."

The overwhelming majority of supervisors voted for AFSCME Maryland Council 3 in a mail-in ballot election conducted by Maryland’s Public Employee Relations Board. AFSCME President Lee Saunders congratulated the new members, saying, "We are proud to welcome nearly 5,000 state supervisors into the AFSCME family and congratulate them on winning their union. They know a voice on the job is essential for ensuring workers have what they need to continue delivering critical public services and strengthening our communities. Now that they officially have a seat at the table, they can advocate for — and win — workplace improvements that will benefit all Marylanders."

AFSCME Maryland Council 3 President Patrick Moran emphasized the importance of this development, stating, "For decades, AFSCME Maryland has been the largest union for state employees. Now, nearly 5,000 state supervisors finally join the rest of their AFSCME family in securing a union contract. Together, we will build on the power of the AFSCME Green Machine and continue to win the raises, rights, and respect that workers deserve."

Yolanda Downing, a Correctional Officer Lieutenant at the Chesapeake Detention Facility, highlighted the importance of safe working conditions and proper staffing levels, saying, "Safe working conditions, proper staffing levels and ensuring every one of my coworkers makes it home to their family at the end of their shift – those are reasons why we need a strong union voice and why I worked so hard to secure today’s win. We have built a strong team that is ready to get to work to negotiate the best union contract possible for supervisors."

This development is the result of a process that began more than a year ago, with state supervisors working with AFSCME Maryland to pass HB 260/SB 192, legislation that granted Unit S state employees collective bargaining rights. Governor Wes Moore signed the legislation in April, surrounded by AFSCME Maryland Supervisors Union leaders.

Nationally, state supervisors in Maryland join other supervisory employees in Connecticut, Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, Minnesota, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Florida as having organized with AFSCME, as have county supervisors in Prince George’s, Baltimore City, and Howard County.

Michael Lawson, Acting Assistant Superintendent/Bus Maintenance Supervisor at the Maryland Transit Administration, emphasized the importance of having a say in workplace policies, stating, "With our union, we as supervisors can finally have a say in workplace policies that affect us, such as expanded hours, how our scheduling works, how comp time works, and more. We are experts at how our agencies and offices operate, and now we have a seat at the table to weigh in on decisions that shape our work, our services, and our agencies."

AFSCME Maryland Council 3 represents more than 50,000 public service workers in local, city, county, and state government, as well as in higher education, who provide the valuable public services that our communities rely on. From Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, they make Maryland happen.

The unionization of nearly 5,000 state supervisors in Maryland marks a significant step forward for collective bargaining rights in the state. With a stronger voice at the bargaining table, supervisors can now advocate for better working conditions, safer work environments, and adequate staffing levels. This development has the potential to lead to improved public services, increased job satisfaction, and a more stable and efficient public sector workforce. As AFSCME Maryland continues to grow and build on its power, it remains committed to winning the raises, rights, and respect that workers deserve.