State Reaches Agreement With Largest Union on Contract That Boosts Health and Safety Protections

Maryland’s largest state employee union reached a contract agreement with the Hogan administration late last week that will bring a 12% wage increase, additional COVID-19 response pay and stronger health and safety measures to thousands of public-sector employees.

The new contract between the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 3 and the state includes a $1,000 bonus this year and cost of living adjustments for the next two years. It also requires state agencies to notify their employees if they were near someone who tested positive for COVID-19, according to AFSCME Council 3.

State employees who are vaccinated and boosted can take 10 days of special COVID leave, instead of using their own sick leave, through the end of this year under the new agreement, according to AFSCME Council 3.

In addition, the new contract extends COVID hazard pay for employees who are in close contact to COVID positive people, such as workers in state hospitals and prisons. The state had discontinued hazard pay at the end of 2020 and reinstated it last spring through a budget amendment, but scores of essential state workers reported that they were left out.

Read more: https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/01/03/state-reaches-agreement-with-largest-union-on-contract-that-boosts-health-and-safety-protections/