Contact: Ray Baker
Communications Director, AFT-Maryland
rbaker@aftmd.org | (410) 585-7862
FACULTY AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE
FILE FOR UNION RECOGNITION
AFFILIATING WITH AFT MARYLAND
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Community college faculty continue to assert their power in the workplace by joining a union. Full time faculty at Chesapeake Community College filed paperwork declaring their intention to form a union with the Maryland Public Employee Labor Relations Board. This comes after years of faculty organizing with support from AFT Maryland. Faculty at the college will join United Academics-Maryland, a union affiliated with AFT Maryland. The affiliation with AFT Maryland builds on the historic affiliation with AAUP and AFT, which took place at the AFT Convention in Boston in 2022.
Faculty at the Queen Anne’s County school are eager for unionization. Seeking to assert their collective power and collaborate with school administrators on the future of the institution, it became apparent that unionization was in the best interest of faculty, students, and the college. “I am proud to be a part of the first organizing unit of Chesapeake College. I am looking forward to continuing a collegial relationship between faculty and administration with the strength of collective bargaining,” said Rieves Verdey, professor of EMS at Chesapeake College. Eleanor Welsh, a professor of English said “It’s exciting to know that we are striving together as a faculty and negotiating with administration to ensure that working conditions will remain fair and equitable here at Chesapeake College.” David Timms, Director of Health Professions added “I look forward to the union supporting the success and well being of students, faculty and staff at Chesapeake College.”
"The changing landscape of higher education demands faculty have a voice and a seat at the table,” said AFT Maryland President Kenya Campbell. "Governor Wes Moore’s emphasis on his associate degree reminds us all of the importance of a community college education. It is vital that educators who will be teaching college graduates of the future be a part of the decision-making process regarding their work and the future of their institution,” Campbell said.
Chesapeake College marks the fourth community college in the state to unionize with AFT Maryland. The other institutions, Frederick Community College, Howard Community College, and Prince George’s Community College are engaged in or preparing for bargaining and are looking forward to their first contract.
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