USM Layoffs/Raises Fight Back

Help us reverse the layoffs at the University of Maryland College Park and Bowie State University!

Behind every diploma are union workers. AFSCME represents over 6,000 staff throughout the University System of Maryland — from academic advisors to administrative assistants to groundkeepers and more — who serve our students and keep these campuses running.

The positions targeted for layoffs all directly served students, staff, and faculty and include a range of job titles across various departments.

  • In May, Bowie State University began issuing layoff notices for 21 AFSCME-represented positions.
  • On June 3, the University of Maryland College Park announced layoffs for 73 AFSCME-represented positions. 

Neither university attempted to explore other options, including reducing costly consultants or top-level administration, before laying off AFSCME members.

  • Both Bowie State University and the University of Maryland have cited record fundraising in recent years.
  • The universities also currently have excessively large endowment funds and state fund balances.

In this past legislative session, state leaders recognized the reduction in federal funds for higher education.

  • State leaders increased funding to the University System of Maryland (USM) to make up for this.
  • The State of Maryland fully funded salary increases for university staff, allocating $35.7 million specifically for pay increases for FY 2027. USM leaders have so far refused to follow through on our already-negotiated wage increases.