We Are Stronger Together!
Union Updates Local by Local
Let’s take a look at some of the great news coming from MSEA local unions, including contract wins, new locals, an LGBTQIA+ member protected from targeted complaints, and more.
Anne Arundel County A new “strategic site visit plan” for 2024-25 is making real progress for the county’s teacher unit. It works like this: leaders of the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County (TAAAC) and assigned MSEA UniServ directors dedicate two days every month to engage members and non-members in union-focused chats during their break and planning times at one location for the entire workday. It’s textbook union power-building—employee-by-employee and site-by-site—and it’s producing results.
So far, the local has signed on 10 new building reps, a dozen new members, new PAC donors, and more members joining school-based and county-wide actions. TAAAC is bringing home what union membership means—it’s not just an office with a UniServ hotline, it’s a community of like-minded professionals with common goals.
Carroll County In February 2025, the Carroll County Board of Education announced the reduction of more than 90 licensed positions in both the teacher and administrator and supervisors (A&S) units. The A&S unit alone saw seven positions moved to the teacher unit, three positions eliminated, and six reassignments.
Since then, the A&S union won commitments from the board of ed that those employees whose positions were eliminated would retain employment (including assistance with any licensure for a new position) and that all those affected would retain their salary for FY2026 in their new positions. A big win for the union and the employees in a very tough situation.
Community Colleges At Anne Arundel Community College, full-time faculty members received official recognition as a local union by the Maryland Public Employees Relations Board. Upon recognition, Riverhawk Educators Union will begin planning their strategy for bargaining a first-ever contract. Meanwhile, the Union of Harford Community College Faculty and the Wor-Wic Community College Faculty Association are bargaining their first-ever contracts. Great news from MSEA’s most recently added units!
Administrators and Supervisors The Washington County Association of Supervisors and Administrators (WCASA) is the newest local to affiliate with MSEA. WCASA won immediate recognition by filing a petition supported by more than 50% of the unit. WCASA includes both certificated and non-certificated administrators and supervisors with a total unit size of 284 and joins 10 other local administrator and supervisors unions represented by MSEA.
Harford County The negotiations settlement for the ESP unit includes language that would ensure ESPs have a safe place to store their personal belongings.
Howard County Union leadership shared information with local news outlet WBAL that led to a multi-part feature story on the state of special education in Howard County. The story put a spotlight on special ed in the county at the same time community partners, using a message aligned with the union, testified at board of ed meetings. The outcome? The board is offering a higher COLA to special education teachers in bargaining. Great planning on the union’s behalf.
Wicomico County The union ensured that language in the new contract was upheld when social events were classified as PTA meetings, which require mandatory staff attendance. Now social events are no longer considered mandatory.
County Omitted to Protect Anonymity A member of the LGBTQIA+ community was targeted by parents with complaints directly to the board of ed and superintendent via social media, letters, and calls to have their student removed from the classroom because of conversations around LGBTQIA+ topics. The member and UniServ director met with school administrators who committed to protect the staff member from unfounded accusations and allowing them to provide an environment where students are free to discuss LGBTQIA+ issues.