Historic New Contract Signing Ceremony for Over 1,000 Howard County Municipal Employees of AFSCME
HOWARD COUNTY, MD – Today, County Executive Calvin Ball signed new contracts reached with County workers in AFSCME Locals 1810, 3080, 3085, and 3888 with Howard County, MD. The recently ratified contract protects Howard County Employees by ensuring fair wages via cost-of-living adjustment and maintaining regular step increases. Additionally, AFSCME unions maintained healthcare coverage and splits that keep healthcare affordable. AFSCME also won enhancements to health and safety including monthly safety committee meetings as well as mutually developed safety trainings. Additional changes to the contracts include improved information provided by the County, greater access to new employee orientations, increased meal allowance, and certain pay enhancement to select job classifications. The contract also guarantees a comprehensive staffing and compensation study for all the blue-collar workers of AFSCME Local 3085.
“These contracts fortified wages, better working conditions, and healthcare for our members across the County. The new MOU signifies a shared commitment to the residents of Howard County and its employees.” William “Bill” Chenowith, Supervisor II at the Department of Public Works and Chief Shop Steward for AFSCME Howard County
“After 41 years of service to the citizens of Howard County I have seen and been part of an evolution from a small agricultural county to a modern community with all of the challenges and opportunity that comes with it.
This contract was hard fought. We know our members are doing the jobs of multiple employees and this agreement includes an overdue staffing study provision. We look forward to ensuring our growing county has the necessary staffing it deserves.” Dale Chase, Electrician at the Department of General Services and President of AFSCME Local 3085
“I am proud our team stuck together to finalize this agreement. I am especially proud of maintaining our healthcare as well as fixing our pay scale.” Tonica Bouyer-Moore, Corporal for the Howard County Department of Corrections and President of AFSCME Local 3080
###
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.