Teachers Will Work Less Amid Pay Dispute In Baltimore County

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — The Baltimore County teachers union voted this week to complete the minimum amount of work required in their contracts. Dubbed "work to rule," the decision comes as educators fight to maintain their promised raises amid a tight budget season.

Teacher walkouts were also authorized as a form of protest.

"We call on our members to engage in daily action, up to and including walk-ins, walkouts, or work to rule," the Teachers Association of Baltimore County said in a memo announcing its Wednesday decision.

Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Myriam Rogers on Friday announced 5% raises for four of the five employee unions. The raises would start on Jan. 1, 2026.

The teachers union was the only bargaining unit to decline the compensation increase. Educators were frustrated that the raise wouldn't start until the New Year, six months later than previously agreed upon.

"The TABCO members do not want to settle for that," Union President Cindy Sexton told Patch on Friday. "Essentially, they're losing out on six months of their increase."

That's why teachers decided to work to rule.

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

A flyer posted on the TABCO website said work to rule is "meant to highlight the unpaid work educators do before and after school, on weekends, and during our lunch and planning periods."

TABCO urged educators to only work during the school day and avoid voluntary work.

Teachers cannot go on a full strike because state law prohibits educator work stoppages, the flyer said.

"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."

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.

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

TABCO previously said year two of the raise plan would have bumped salaries by 5%, The Baltimore Sun and WYPR reported.

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

WMAR said teachers rallied Tuesday in the rain on street corners in Milford Mill, Towson and Dundalk.

Teachers held signs reading "Promises made should be promises kept," "I already wait to pee. Don't make me wait to be paid" and "Education is essential. Treat it that way."

At the time, the superintendent remained confident that an agreement was within reach.

"With the confirmation of additional state funds available to BCPS and further savings measures, we are able to commit to step and COLA enhancements for our dedicated staff members that are comparable to county government," Rogers said in a May 23 email to staff, referencing the 2% cost-of-living adjustment approved for other county employees. "We look forward to meeting with our union leaders early next week and sharing a positive outcome with Team BCPS."

More information on work to rule is posted here.

The BCPS budget must be finalized before fiscal year 2026 starts this July 1.

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