Collective Bargaining in the University System of Maryland (USM)


The USM supports employees’ rights to determine for themselves whether or not they think collective bargaining is beneficial and, if eligible, to take part or refrain from taking part in forming, joining, supporting, or participating in an employee organization (i.e., a union) or its lawful activities. Employees should know that even if they are in a bargaining unit represented by an exclusive representative, they may still discuss any matter with their employer without the intervention of the exclusive representative or other employee organization.

Employees’ eligibility for collective bargaining rights is governed by state law. Approximately 6,000 USM employees are currently represented by an organization certified as their exclusive bargaining representative. This means that the exclusive representative is entitled to negotiate with the institution’s president or designee(s) or, where applicable, the chancellor or the chancellor’s designee(s) over wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment on behalf of bargaining unit employees.

The current bargaining units and their respective exclusive bargaining representatives are listed below:

Institution Bargaining Unit Exclusive Representative*
Bowie State University Exempt
Nonexempt
Sworn Police
AFSCME
AFSCME
MCEA
Coppin State University Exempt
Nonexempt
Sworn Police
AFSCME
AFSCME
FOP
Frostburg State University Exempt
Nonexempt
Sworn Police
AFSCME
AFSCME
FOP
Salisbury University Nonexempt
Sworn Police
MCEA
FOP
Towson University Sworn Police FOP
University of Baltimore Nonexempt AFSCME
University of Maryland, Baltimore Nonexempt
Sworn Police
AFSCME
FOP
University of Maryland, Baltimore County Nonexempt
Sworn Police
AFSCME
FOP
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Nonexempt MCEA
University of Maryland, College Park Exempt
Nonexempt
Sworn Police
AFSCME
AFSCME
FOP
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Exempt
Nonexempt
Sworn Police
AFSCME
AFSCME
AFSCME
University of Maryland Global Campus Nonexempt AFSCME

*Exclusive Representative Acronyms:
AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees)
FOP (Fraternal Order of Police)
MCEA (Maryland Classified Employees Association)