Collective bargaining agreements are negotiated contracts or Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) that govern the terms and conditions of employment for bargaining unit employees who are represented by an exclusive bargaining representative. These MOUs include topics such as wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment.
At UMBC, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) represents certain nonexempt employees and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) represents sworn police officers on campus.
USM Employee and Labor Relations
The University System of Maryland (USM) has published an Employee and Labor Relations webpage that provides useful information on employee wages, benefits and resources. The page also includes a helpful Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on common employee and labor relations questions.
USM and AFSCME Consolidated Bargaining Information
The collective bargaining laws that govern the University changed in 2022 to allow a single bargaining representative to negotiate a unified collective bargaining agreement for multiple bargaining units. As a result, the University engaged in a consolidated negotiation process with USM-affiliated institutions that employ AFSCME bargaining unit employees.
An inaugural consolidated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) went into effect in 2024 and will remain in effect through June 30, 2027. For information on the consolidated bargaining process, visit the USM consolidated bargaining webpage.
The law has established the following potential bargaining units:
- All eligible exempt employees
- All eligible non-exempt employees
- All eligible sworn police officers
- All eligible Graduate Assistants (effective July 1st, 2028)
- All eligible non-tenure-track Faculty (effective July 1st, 2026)
Employees excluded from participating in collective bargaining are those who are supervisory, confidential, and managerial. Also excluded are student (including teaching assistants and postdoctoral interns), contingent, contractual, temporary, and emergency employees.
To date, two potential bargaining units have elected to have union representation and they both have negotiated contracts; they are:
- Non-exempt bargaining unit: represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). If you have any questions regarding the MOU, please contact Debbie Michaels, President (Local 1459) at 410-455-1459 or at dmichaels@umbc.edu. For a complete copy of the MOU between UMBC and AFSCME, please see the USM Consolidated Collective Bargaining webpage.
- Sworn police officers bargaining unit: represented by the Fraternal Order of the Police (FOP). If you have any questions regarding the MOU, please contact MPO Carl “Andy” Anderson , President, FOP Lodge #129. He can be reached at acarl@umbc.edu. For a complete copy of the MOU between UMBC and the FOP, please contact HRSTM.