Community College Faculty
MSEA—The Right Union for Community College Faculty
Legislation passed in 2021 by the Maryland General Assembly gives community college employees the right to form a union to win improvements in pay, benefits, and working conditions through a collective bargaining agreement. That means Maryland community college faculty can join the 75,000 members of MSEA and the three million members of the National Education Association. We know that when educators and faculty have the power to sit down at the bargaining table, they have a powerful voice and deliver results.
In 2021, and every year before, full-time higher education faculty in unions were paid more than non-union faculty in the same states. In fact, faculty in unions earn about $5,000 more than non-unionized faculty in the same states. They earn $17,000 more than faculty in states without faculty unions. The biggest difference is at community colleges and other 2-year institutions, where union faculty earn an additional $18,000, or 27% more, than their peers in the same states. Learn more in NEA’s Higher Education Faculty Staff Analysis at this link.
FAQs
Is there a proven union presence in Maryland for education professionals?
MSEA’s 150+ years of experience as Maryland’s educator union has demonstrated time and again that when the voices of educators are at the table, our profession, our students, and our communities win. With 75,000 members, we are the largest union in Maryland with locals in 23 of the state’s 24 jurisdictions. The power and strength in our numbers is evident in our success at the bargaining table and in policy wins in Annapolis.
What type of local infrastructure does the union have?
MSEA supports 75,000 certificated teachers, support staff, and administrators in Maryland with local professional staff skilled in union organizing, representation, and advocacy and with statewide expertise from policy, research, communications, and legal teams. Solidarity from other public employees strengthens your hand at the bargaining table.
What type of political influence, resources, and staffing does the union have at the state and local level?
MSEA is the state’s largest public employee union with power and influence at the local and state levels. Local union organizers, a legal team, policy specialists, and lobbyists work to protect public education, educators, schools, students, and communities.
How is the union governed? Are there term limits on presidents?
Every MSEA affiliate is member-led with election rules and processes formalized in their bylaws, including term limits for presidents.
What is the process for major changes like mergers with other unions?
MSEA has a history of member-led success in representation, advocacy, and game-changing policy and political campaigns. Our affiliates are democratically run with informed members whose input is sought through monthly assemblies, committees, and surveys.
Your Protections
The right to form a union provides protections for employees who exercise their right to improve their workplace.
- Your right to come together with your coworkers and form a union to make improvements at your job is explicitly protected.
- You can talk to your co-workers about forming a union on campus, just be sure not to interrupt employer operations.
- Whether or not you sign a union card or vote to form a union is anonymous and won’t be made public to your college’s administration.
- Your administration may not spend any public money trying to discourage you from forming a union and improving your job.
- Your employer cannot harass, fire, intimidate, or change your working conditions in retaliation for an employee being in favor of unionizing.
- Your employer must by law bargain in good faith with you and your coworkers, once you have formed your union.
Learn more about organizing with MSEA! Contact Alex Michaud at [email protected].