Raises Approved For Most School Employees, 1 Union Still Holding Out

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Baltimore County overcame a deep budget deficit to fund promised pay raises for all but one of its employee unions, Patch confirmed.

The teachers union is the only bargaining unit that hasn't yet agreed to the compensation increase offered by Baltimore County Public Schools.

"BCPS will honor the negotiated year two compensation package," Superintendent Myriam Rogers said in a Friday afternoon staff email reviewed by Patch. "The compensation increases will go into effect on January 1, 2026. Year two compensation includes step and COLA enhancements that provide a 5 percent average increase for staff."

The unions that agreed to the deal are:

• AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) Local 434.
• CASE (Council of Supervisors and Administrators).
• ESPBC (Education Support Professionals of Baltimore County).
• OPE (BCPS Organization of Professional Employees).

"Providing competitive salaries for our hard-working employees is critical to continued progress for the 110,000 students who count on us," Rogers said in the email. "To that end, in spite of an incredibly challenging fiscal climate, I have prioritized increasing staff compensation."

BCPS said the negotiations are ongoing with the Teachers Association of Baltimore County.

Teachers union President Cindy Sexton is frustrated that the offered raises would start in the New Year rather than on July 1, as their contract previously stated.

"The TABCO members do not want to settle for that," Sexton told Patch in an exclusive interview. "Essentially, they're losing out on six months of their increase."

Facing cuts from the State of Maryland and the federal government, Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier was unable to fully fund the school system's budget request.

The County Council last week approved the budget proposal that gave schools $71.7 million less than what they sought for their general fund.

The school budget request was inflated partially by a previously set three-year, $56 million plan to raise employee salaries.

Sexton said "year one was put into place appropriately," drawing "lots of fanfare and celebration."

Year two, however, is a different story.

Rogers said she would have to renegotiate those pre-set contracts to offset the deficit, which has already caused a hiring freeze and layoffs of central office staff.

"I just fear that if we don't honor the agreement, that is going to disenfranchise some educators," Sexton said.

When negotiations reopened, Sexton told WMAR and WBAL-TV that the schools offered teachers a 1.5% raise.

Rogers later confirmed that additional state funds were available and raised the offer, but she didn't budge on the start date for pay increases.

In protest, TABCO voted Wednesday to authorize teacher walkouts and begin work-to-rule operations. Teachers were instructed to only work during the school day and decline any voluntary work requested of them.

"Work to rule is one of the strongest actions a union can take. Every educator works outside their duty day," Sexton said.

Sexton said "it's almost impossible" for teachers to finish all their tasks during their shift, so they often take work home. Stopping that practice shows how much educators work off the clock.

"It's about letting people know everything that might not get done if we just stuck to our duty [day,]" Sexton said. "It's a show of solidarity. We are all frustrated ... We need the public's attention too."

Related:

• Teachers Will Work Less Amid Pay Dispute In Baltimore County
• No Tax Hike, Teacher Pay In Question In Passed Baltimore County Budget
• 'Reckless' Federal Cuts Would Squeeze Already Tight School Budget
• Baltimore County Schools Cutting, Reassigning Staff Amid Deficit
• Teacher Pay Raises At Risk As Baltimore County Schools Renegotiate
• Will Taxes Rise In Baltimore County? Klausmeier Unveils Spending Plan
• Schools Request Bigger Budget, But Baltimore County Can't Afford It
• BCPS Budget Cuts Possible, Baltimore County Faces Tough Choices: Report
• BCPS Short $20M In Budget Proposal, Job Cuts Also Planned: Reports