A lesson in higher learning: Don’t mess with AFSCME members
The University System of Maryland (USM) learned an important lesson recently the hard way: Don’t mess with AFSCME members.
After USM decided to withhold negotiated raises from its employees — including a 2.5% merit increase effective July 1, 2026 — AFSCME members rallied and pressured university officials to respect their collective bargaining agreement.
Then, on Tuesday, Gov. Wes Moore’s administration instructed USM — the state’s public higher education system that includes 12 universities — to pay out the raises outlined in AFSCME’s union contract.
Sabeela Ally, executive director of AFSCME Maryland Council 3, called it “a win for everyone.”
“When university system leaders attempted to treat our legally binding union contract as an option rather than an obligation, AFSCME members did not back down,” she said in a press release. “We sent a clear message that leading with integrity and honor as premier higher education institutions starts with treating your workers with the respect that they deserve.”
AFSCME members represent over 6,000 USM employees, including workers at Frostburg State University (Local 239), Bowie State University (Local 1297), University of Maryland, College Park (Local 1072), Coppin State University (Local 1356), University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Local 1459), University of Maryland, Eastern Shore (Local 1833), University of Maryland, Baltimore (Local 1839) and the University of Baltimore (Local 3895).
The university system pursued widescale layoffs earlier this summer. AFSCME members continue the fight to reinstate the positions eliminated by USM, particularly at the University of Maryland, College Park and Bowie State University.
