FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Feldman Strategies, team@feldmanstrategies.com
August 24, 2026
Baltimore City Community College Faculty Vote Unanimously to Ratify First-Ever Union Contract
After 19 months of relentless negotiations, faculty approved a contract that delivers wage increases, a clear pathway to promotion, and protections for their union in the event of a merger
BALTIMORE, MD – Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) faculty, represented by United Academics of Maryland, Local 6628 (UAMD) – an affiliate of AFT Maryland – have voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first-ever union contract, which includes competitive wage increases, an improved pathway to promotion, and major improvements to working conditions and job protections. This victory marks the seventh UAMD-represented institution to ratify a contract since the State Legislature expanded collective bargaining rights to community college faculty in 2021.
For over a year, BCCC faculty spoke out, rallied, and stood in solidarity with workers across the college as leadership repeatedly dragged out bargaining and used tactics to undermine their fight for a fair contract. Refusing to back down, faculty pushed through every delaying tactic to win the contract they deserve.
“This achievement comes after 19 months of refusing to back down against challenging negotiations with the College and continued efforts to undermine faculty rights. Faculty remained united against attempts to divide us and worked alongside the broader BCCC community to address key issues including due process, seniority, compensation, and the inclusion of program coordinators in the bargaining unit,” said UAMD President and BCCC Faculty Member Angelique Cook-Hayes. “This historic agreement represents a major victory for the rights of higher education workers across Maryland and proof of what we can accomplish when we stand together.”
With their first-ever union contract, BCCC faculty will see wage increases of at least 8.25% over the life of the contract – which includes a 3.25% raise and $1,000 bonus in year one – clearer criteria for promotion, critical protections, and a successorship agreement that ensures faculty keep their union in the event of a merger or reduction in force, guaranteeing the faculty voice, representation, and hard-won protections cannot be stripped away.
“For 19 months, faculty showed up at the bargaining table in good faith, negotiating – and now overwhelmingly ratifying – an agreement that reflects the dedication they bring to their students every day," said Kenya Campbell, President of AFT Maryland and a Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers. “BCCC faculty were tireless in a contract negotiation marred by management’s efforts to delay and undermine faculty at every turn, from unionizing to ratifying a first-ever union contract. It wasn’t an easy road, but it is time for BCCC to honor the hard work of faculty and their unanimous vote to ratify this contract.”
The hard-fought contract win comes on the heels of the recent BCCC audit that identified widespread mismanagement and confirmed what faculty have been saying for years. From chronic understaffing, poor working conditions, bloated workloads, and constant turnover in academic and administrative leadership, BCCC faculty have carried the burden of mismanagement for years. These are the very issues – alongside their demand for transparency and stability – faculty brought to the bargaining table and are addressing with this union contract.
“Faculty at Baltimore City Community College work tirelessly to prepare our young people for a brighter future—all they ask for in return is to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “This hard-fought first contract guarantees pathways to promotions, secures significant and overdue wage increases, and provides protections to ensure faculty can always be represented by a union. It shows, once again, that by joining together we can achieve a far better life for educators, students and communities than we ever could alone. That is what a fair contract is all about.”
“At a time of great instability for colleges and college teachers, BCCC faculty have organized to win a future with greater job security, higher wages, and more respect and dignity on the job. As they join their UAMD co-workers on six other community college campuses who have ratified their first union contract, we’re proud that such smart, tenacious, and dedicated instructors are AAUP members," said AAUP President Todd Wolfson.
As the only community college in Baltimore City, BCCC plays a critical role in the city's workforce development, serving a predominantly Black, working-class, and immigrant student population. Students deserve a high-quality education that sets them up for success – and with this contract, faculty have secured the conditions needed to keep delivering on that promise.
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United Academics of Maryland is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), which joined forces in 2022 to strengthen the voice of academic workers nationwide. AFT is the largest higher education union in the country, representing over 400,000 faculty and staff nationwide. Over 70% of all unionized faculty are AFT members.
In Maryland, AFT Maryland represents faculty and staff on more than seven community college campuses and remains a leading advocate in Annapolis for higher education rights and protections.