WCBC

January 17th, 2018 by WCBC Radio

The Hogan administration today announced that the state has reached contract agreements with major employee unions to provide for two benefits premium holidays, a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), along with various enhancement and retention bonuses in critical public safety and health agencies. In addition, the state also signed economic reopeners with unions representing police officers, fire marshals, and firefighters. The administration has now reached agreements for full contracts or economic reopeners with all of the state employee unions.

“These contract agreements are tremendous news for the state and our hard-working employees. I want to thank Department of Budget and Management Secretary David Brinkley, Executive Director Cindy Kollner of the Office of Personnel Services and Benefits, along with all of their staff for their efforts throughout this process,” said Governor Hogan. “I also want to thank the leaders of these unions for working with our administration to reach these important agreements.”

Agreements were reached on three-year contracts with the Maryland Professional Employees Council, representing approximately 3,723 employees; the American Federation of Teachers Healthcare – Maryland, representing approximately 1,619 employees; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) – Maryland, which represents approximately 9,892 employees and the Teamsters (Local 355) that, along with AFSCME, represents approximately an additional 8,001 employees.  

Economic reopeners were reached with the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance, representing approximately 1,700 sworn police and state fire marshals; the Maryland Transportation Authority Fraternal Order of Police, representing approximately 430 sworn police at the transportation authority; and the BWI Fire Fighters, representing approximately 63 firefighters at BWI Airport.