Collective Bargaining Education

Executive Director Glen Middleton testified on bill SB 569 – Education Collective Bargaining the new bill requires that local school boards and the union representing non- certified employees must negotiate about discipline and discharge. The bill would allow both parties (union and the local school board) to arrange a written agreement that would satisfy the interest of the employee and the employer.

Under current law, the state does not require negotiations to protect the jobs of these employees. The system indicates that in matters relating to discipline and discharge employees are not subject to collective bargaining. Employees, under the current system have no resource under their collective bargaining agreement to negotiate fair and just terms for separation.

AFSCME Council 67 represents thousands of non certified employees across the State of Maryland; these are your teacher’s aids, crossing guards, school bus drivers, food service workers that generally impact the lives of Maryland children. These employees interact with children in the school system during their most influential times; social hours, they protect the health and safety of our Maryland children and they ultimately enhance their developmental skills in order for them to be productive in the classroom. In efforts to nurture the needs of our children and protect the jobs of our mentors and guardians we need to support the collective bargaining bill for education. These Maryland employees deserve fair and just representation.