Dear Legislators,

20,000 faculty members at Maryland public sector universities are being left behind without collective bargaining rights – rights already afforded to nearly all other Maryland public employees.

As things stand, Maryland state law does not provide collective bargaining for faculty employed by public universities – a fact that is an embarrassment to Maryland’s pro-worker record. Maryland’s outdated laws not only prevent higher education faculty from truly having a voice, but also leave the University System of Maryland out of step with peer institutions.

When faculty have the right to negotiate over wages, benefits, and working conditions, they can more effectively advocate for the resources and policies that support student success. And research has shown that faculty collective bargaining enhances cost-effectiveness, optimizes efficiency, reduces inequality, and advances equity – leading to a boost in student achievement and improving university governance.

In 2021, the Maryland State Legislature expanded collective bargaining to its community college faculty. Since then, AFT Maryland has organized more than 1,200 faculty at seven community colleges. Those two-year faculty have personally seen both the student and the faculty experience at the schools change positively since certifying their unions – addressing safety concerns, faculty freedom, and shared governance.

The State Legislature must correct this failure for all faculty at four-year public colleges and universities by sending HB661/SB750 to the Governor’s desk.

Faculty at Maryland public sector universities play a vital role in shaping students' futures, yet they are held back by their inability to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions. Supporting HB661/SB750 will not only improve teaching conditions and give faculty a voice, but also enhance learning environments for Maryland students, ensuring they receive the best education possible.

Thank you for your time and consideration.