The University of Maryland and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) have reached their second three-year agreement on a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding covering wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment, this one for the university's 970 exempt professional staff employees.The Memorandum of Understanding must be approved by President C. D. Mote, Jr. and the Board of Regents, and it must be ratified by the union membership.
Mote congratulated both sides on their reaching agreement. "We have now concluded negotiations with all three employee bargaining units at the university, and we look forward to working together with all our employees to continue to build this great university."
The agreement brings to a close negotiations with AFSCME over the first MOU governing exempt employees. "We are very pleased to have reached agreement with our exempt staff employees. As a framework for future relations with the union, this will set the standard for working conditions at Maryland," said John D. Porcari, vice president for administrative affairs.
Porcari said the agreement has resulted in a number of new benefits for employees including a salary increase, establishment of a professional development day and a bereavement leave policy. Additionally, tuition remission and several other existing policies have been solidified under the umbrella of this agreement.
The university previously reached agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents the sworn police officers on the College Park campus, and with AFSCME, which represents the nonexempt staff employees on the campus.