The Maryland General Assembly recently passed the Community College Collective Bargaining Bill. It now sits on Governor Hogan’s Desk. The bill would establish collective bargaining rights for certain Maryland community college employees, as discussed in our February article. This legislation would have a significant impact upon community colleges, both in terms of fiscal impact as well as the amount of staff time devoted towards addressing union matters.
The final version of the bill is pared down. Two significant changes should give community colleges some relief:
- The effective dates were delayed. Originally set for October 1, 2021, the effective dates are now September 1, 2022, September 1, 2023, and October 1, 2024 depending on the community college. See the Fiscal and Policy Note for a Comprehensive list of dates and schools.
- What were once six bargaining units are now four. With the removal of “sworn police officers” and “exempt non-faculty,” the eligible units are full-time faculty; part-time faculty; two units for nonexempt employees.
Even with these changes, the bill pushes community colleges into uncharted territory.
The Governor may veto the bill within thirty days after presentation. If it is not vetoed, it becomes law. If the Governor vetoes the bill, the veto message must be considered immediately at the next regular or special session of the legislature. A three-fifths vote of the elected membership of both chambers is necessary to override the veto.
Stay tuned: PK Law’s Education, Labor and Employment Attorneys are keeping a close eye on Governor Hogan as we eagerly wait to see action (or inaction) on the bill.
PK Law Labor and Employment Attorneys are closely monitoring the bill. Click HERE to contact a PK Law Labor and Employment Attorney or contact information@pklaw.com.
Charles Kassir is an Associate in the firm’s Labor and Employment Group. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 2019. While in law school, Charlie served as Executive Articles Editor of the Maryland Law Review and was a Member of the Moot Court Board. After graduating from law school, Charles clerked for the Honorable Joseph M. Getty of the Court of Appeals of Maryland. He can be reached at 410-740-3148 or ckassir@pklaw.com.
