BALTIMORE — The staff members who keep the public schools in Maryland’s largest city running are celebrating their new contract. And they have many reasons to be happy.
Everett Johnson, a prevention maintenance technician, likes that his co-workers in Baltimore won’t have to buy their own tools for work.
Teresa Fleming, a custodian, is happy that the contract provides fair pay raises that will make it unnecessary for many workers to take on second jobs.
Last week, Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) staff, represented by Local 44 (AFSCME Maryland Council 3), voted unanimously to ratify a new contract. AFSCME began negotiations with BCPSS in the spring and reached a tentative agreement with the school system in late June.
The contract delivers much-needed pay increases, improved health and safety protections, and expanded workplace rights for employees. It is retroactive to July 1, 2024, and runs through June 30, 2027.
Highlights of pay-related provisions include:
- Retroactive to July 1, 2024, employees will receive an hourly rate increase of $0.25 and a base pay increase of 3.5%.
- Effective July 1, 2025, employees will receive an hourly rate increase of $0.25 and a base pay increase of 3%.
- Interval increase on the wage scale effective July 1 of each year.
- Language mandating a compensation study facilitated by BCPSS by April 1, 2026, and wage negotiations in the third year of the contract.
Other highlights:
- BCPSS must provide training and clear processes for reporting work-related injuries as well as language reinforcing compliance with Maryland’s new Heat Stress Standard.
- BCPSS must supply tools and personal protective equipment to employees.
- And BCPSS must provide two professional development days for staff.
This contract covers over 1,000 BCPSS employees, including bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, hall monitors, groundskeepers, and more.
“I’m really happy we’ve won a contract that provides us with the tools we need to do our jobs and keep us safe at work,” Johnson said. “It also means that when we’re working in the buildings this summer, we have the proper AC we need, and we can ensure our buildings are safe for students, teachers, and staff.”
Fleming was on the team that negotiated the contract.
“We were able to work with BCPSS management to ensure our work and our rights are being respected through this new contract,” she said. “Many of my co-workers have been working two jobs for so long, so these raises are very much needed so we can continue to be there for our students.”
Resource Specialist Pamela Hart praised the bargaining team for negotiating a contract that puts workers first.
“We secured much-needed wage increases during a time of inflation when the cost of living keeps rising. These increases are going to help a lot of families like mine,” Hart said.
And Hall Monitor Robert Cannon said the contract means a lot to him and his fellow members.
“We are the hard-working people behind the scenes that help the Baltimore City Public School System run,” he said. “It feels good to come together as a union to ratify a contract that pays us fairly.”