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Tentative Agreement Reached for Local 44, 558, and 2202!

AFSCME Local 44
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Highlights include 12-19% in wage increases over the next three years, increased hazard pay, health and safety improvements, and more! 

Wage and Pay Increases

  • A comprehensive overhaul of the existing pay scale that will raise the minimum salary of all city employees represented by AFSCME to at least $20 an hour (up from $16 an hour)
    • On average, Local 44 members will receive nearly 19% in wage increases over the life of the contract, Local 558 members will receive nearly 14% in wage increases, and Local 2202 members will receive nearly 12% in wage increases.
    • A new 25-step salary scale will be phased in over 3 years to address issues of wage compression and lack of long-term career path.
    • Employees will be placed on the new step scale based on their years of service. In FY26, steps 1-10 will be phased in, in FY27, steps 11-15 will be phased in, and in FY28, steps 16-25 will be phased in.
    • Step increases will happen every 18 months.
  • Cost of living adjustment of 2.5% for FY27 and 2.75 % for FY28
  • An increase to hazard differential pay from $0.15 per hour to $0.75 per hour
    • All DPW employees in Routine Services will be eligible to receive hazard pay.
    • Additional classifications will be reviewed to expand hazard pay eligibility.

Additional Improvements

  • Increased meal allowance to $15 for employees required to work three or more hours immediately following their normal shift
  • An increase in the tool stipend for certain DGS employees from $2,000 to $2,500
  • Enhanced Health and Safety Committees with access to City information
  • Requirement for the City to notify and bargain with the Union before implementing any new or modified Standard Operating Procedure
  • Language to reduce reliance on outside contractors for bargaining unit work

Hear from AFSCME Bargaining Team Members

“I’m thrilled with this agreement because it represents a historic change in how members are compensated and provides us with important health and safety protections. We’ll be able to hire and retain the nurses we need to make sure our communities and children receive the care they need.”

Wendy Smith, AFSCME Local 558 President
Community Health Nurse II, Health Department

“23 years ago, I started my job with the City making $10.58 an hour. With this new contract, nobody else will ever have to be paid that low again because we’ve set the floor at $20 an hour. And with this new pay scale, you’ll have a clear sense of how much you’ll be making now and in the future. Two years ago, when I helped fixed the pay scale for the Water & Waste Water workers, we promised everyone we would fix the pay scale citywide. I have so much gratitude for our negotiating team and the work that we put in that led us to this achievement.”

Trevor Taylor, AFSCME Local 44 Vice President
Crew Leader, Department of Public Works (Water and Waste Water)

“The work that Local 2202 members do in the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success is essential to ensuring the office operates and functions smoothly so that constituents can receive the services that they need. With this new step scale, we will finally have individuals that can stay here longer and make this a career that they can do until they retire. Signed, sealed, and ready to deliver — I’m excited for this new contract and this new chapter for city employees.”

Jacqueline Powell, AFSCME Local 2202 President
Human Services Worker II, Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success

AFSCME Bargaining Team Members

Local 44

  • Alonzo Blue, Department of Public Works
  • Edward Brown, Baltimore Convention Center
  • Dorothy Bryant, Health Department
  • Zeus Collins, Department of General Services
  • Kim Farabee, Department of Transportation
  • Arthur King, Department of Transportation
  • Allen Mahomes, Department of Transportation
  • Reginald Moore, Department of General Services
  • Dashae Parham, Department of Public Works
  • Bernie Taylor, Department of Recreation and Parks
  • Trevor Taylor, Department of Public Works
  • Anthony Wyche, Department of Public Works 

Local 558

  • Wendy Smith, Health Department
  • Tia Harp, Health Department
  • Jocelyn Robinson, Health Department
  • Charmanique Gingles, Health Department
  • Latarsha Henderson, Health Department
  • Nicole Jones, Health Department

Local 2202

  • Jacqueline Powell, Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success
  • Tiffany Cash, Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success
  • Lisa Williams, Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success
  • Charlie Taylor, Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success

Stay tuned for more information about ratifying our contract! Only members can vote!
You can join online at www.afscmemd.org/join.