Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott Signed New Contract for Over 2,000 Baltimore City Municipal Employees of AFSCME
BALTIMORE – On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott signed a new and historic contract between the city of Baltimore and municipal workers with AFSCME Locals 44, 558, and 2202. The recently-ratified contract protects Baltimore workers by ensuring fair wages via a comprehensive overhaul of the existing pay scale, raising the minimum salary of all city employees represented by AFSCME to at least $20 an hour (up from $16 an hour), cost of living adjustment, and enhanced health and safety committees.
The three Locals represent nearly 2,200 city employees across various departments and agencies, including the Department of Public Works, Department of Transportation, Recreation and Parks, Department of General Services, Community Health Nurses, and the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success.
“I am so grateful to our partners at AFSCME, and everyone involved in these negotiations.... Each and every day, AFSCME members show up and deliver for the people of Baltimore. With this agreement, we’ve delivered for them."
- Mayor Brandon M. Scott
“As a member of the bargaining team, I’m proud and excited that we’ve signed this historic contract. It truly values our hard work and establishes a step-scale that reflects our years of service and everything we do to keep the city running. This contract is inclusive of both new and longtime Baltimore City municipal employees. It ensures that those who’ve been here for ten or more years finally receive the pay they deserve, while also allowing new employees to start off on the right foot. These raises bring everyone up together, and it’s a well-deserved win for all of us.”
- Zeus Collins, Local 44 Bargaining Team Member, Lead Mechanic, DGS Department of General Services, Pulaski Hwy Mechanical Shop
“Our contract means so much to me. After working for the city for 44 years, I know that these raises will benefit our pension. I’ve known too many people who have had to get other jobs once they retire. I’m proud to say that this is no longer the case.”
- Alonzo Blue, Local 44 Bargaining Team Member, Water and Wastewater CDL Driver II
“I’m excited about this historic contract because it finally moves us in the right direction financially for our members. Our members deserve to feel valued and appreciated for the hard work they do every day. With these new, competitive wages, we can take pride in knowing that our contributions to the city are being recognized. We look forward to continuing to work with the mayor to make Baltimore an even better place for everyone.”
- Ed Brown, Bargaining Team Member, Shop Steward, Baltimore City Convention Center, Operations Crew Leader
“I’m thrilled with today’s official contract signing, because it represents a historic change in how members are compensated and provides us with important health and safety protections. For the first time, our salaries as Local 558 members will be competitive with those of other healthcare employers in the city. This means 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, Bargaining Team Member, Community Health Nurse II, Health Department
“The workers of Local 2202 are deserving of all of the new expanded benefits, including the new step scale, where employees with MOCFS will be more likely to stay with the agency and expand their careers.”
- Jacqueline Powell, AFSCME local 2202 President, Bargaining Team Member, Human Services Worker II for Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success
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About AFSCME
AFSCME's 1.4 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in communities across the nation, serving in hundreds of different occupations — from nurses to corrections officers, childcare providers to sanitation workers — AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and freedom and opportunity for all working families.
About AFSCME Maryland Council 3
AFSCME Maryland Council 3 represents nearly 50,000 public service workers in local, city, county and state government as well as in higher education and the private sector who provide the valuable public services that our communities rely on. From Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, we make Maryland happen.