Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) faculty have reached a tentative agreement on their first-ever union contract, winning wage increases, improvements to working conditions, benefits, and protections.
The faculty was represented by United Academics of Maryland (UAMD), an affiliate of AFT Maryland. This victory for the CCBC faculty makes it the sixth UAMD-represented institution to reach a tentative agreement since the General Assembly extended collective bargaining rights to community college faculty in 2021.
“I’m proud of the hard work done by our bargaining team and the support of our faculty in negotiating a fair contract,” said Michael Hands, professor and chapter chair at Community College of Baltimore County. “This agreement ensures equitable pay, increased transparency, and secure employment for all faculty.”
CCBC faculty organized primarily because of wages and working conditions. The new agreement offers support and financial security. It includes 12.6% salary increases over the next three fiscal years through a merit step system and cost of living adjustments. This is what the faculty fought for during the negotiations.
“CCBC faculty stood together in their fight, and that unity has delivered a tentative agreement that delivers on the very issues that drove workers to unionize over one year ago,” said Kenya Campbell, president of AFT Maryland. “We know that when faculty have a voice at the table, everyone benefits – students, the college, and the community. Today is a major victory for our CCBC faculty, and it is driving the fight forward for all faculty and workers across Maryland demanding the wages, protections, and benefits they deserve.”
The new tentative agreement offers better job security with protections against undue discipline for educators early in their careers. It also establishes enforceable protections for academic freedom rights. This protects integrity and expertise in teaching, research, and publications that form the backbone of CCBC’s educational mission. Faculty also won a new faculty-only sick leave bank, giving them a safety net and better access to parental leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
“Faculty at CCBC work tirelessly to educate our young adults and ensure they have the knowledge to unlock our future. What they ask for in return was to be treated with dignity and respect. That is what a fair contract is all about,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). “This agreement is a breakthrough for faculty who for months fought to attain a real voice, job security and dignity at work. From Maryland to communities nationwide, faculty are pushing back against funding cuts and political attacks while championing a higher education system that is democratic, accessible, and transformative.”
