Maryland Passes Historic Collective Bargaining Law for University Faculty

Maryland Legislation Extends Collective Bargaining Rights to Non-Tenure Track Faculty

ANNAPOLIS, MD – In a significant development for higher education in Maryland, the state's General Assembly has approved a bill that grants collective bargaining rights to the majority of non-tenure track faculty at four-year public universities. This includes both full-time and part-time/adjunct faculty.

"Collective bargaining creates equity across the board and allows underpaid faculty to have a living wage and access to benefits; what should be a human right," stated Robert Bennett, Part-Time Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Chair of the Adjunct Faculty Advisory Committee. Bennett emphasized that the legislation addresses long-standing exploitation in the academic sector, offering a platform for faculty to advocate for better conditions.

The passage of this legislation is the culmination of persistent efforts by AFT Maryland, which has been active in campuses, communities, and the state's capital. In 2021, Maryland extended similar rights to community college faculty, and since then, AFT Maryland has been working to bring similar provisions to four-year institutions. The organization represents over 18,000 workers in various sectors, including education and healthcare.

"This victory marks a turning point for Maryland public higher education faculty," commented Dr. Tina Kelleher, a Teaching Professor at Towson University and President of the TU AAUP chapter. She highlighted that non-tenure track faculty often face financial and job insecurity, and collective bargaining could provide them with a meaningful voice to address these issues.

The legislative session saw faculty statewide sharing personal accounts of the challenges faced without collective bargaining protections. AFT Maryland President Kenya Campbell noted the transformative nature of collective bargaining, drawing parallels with community college faculty who have achieved notable union contracts. Campbell stated, "Today, we celebrate, and tomorrow we keep fighting – fighting to organize our non-tenure track faculty so they have a voice and fighting to extend collective bargaining rights to all faculty."

Despite some exclusions, thousands of faculty members will now be able to negotiate over wages, benefits, and working conditions, gaining influence over decisions impacting their work and educational missions. This move aligns Maryland with 25 other states that already offer such rights to faculty at four-year institutions.

AFT President Randi Weingarten remarked, "When workers have a voice at work everyone wins: the students we teach and the communities we serve. This legislation represents a historic step forward for Maryland and brings us closer to ensuring all higher education workers can bargain for a better life—for themselves, their colleagues and their students."

The success of this initiative is attributed to organized advocacy and support from legislative champions like Senator Ben Kramer and Delegate Linda Foley. AFT Maryland vows to continue its efforts until comprehensive collective bargaining rights are extended to all four-year faculty in the state.

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AFT Maryland represents over 18,000 educators, paraprofessionals, university faculty and staff, state and local government employees, and healthcare professionals. AFT Maryland remains a leading advocate in Annapolis for the rights and protections of all Maryland workers.

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The AFT represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.