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State Employee Collective Bargaining and Budget Amendment
State Employee Collective Bargaining and Budget Amendment
Maryland · November 3, 2026
What this measure does
Require the budget submitted by the governor to provide for expenditures for wages, hours, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment provided by a memorandum of understanding that covers state employees and provides for statutory changes to collective bargaining for state employees, including requiring the selection of a neutral arbitrator and establishing a process of arbitration
A yes vote means
State employees get a binding arbitration process when negotiations stall, and their contract agreements must be included in the state budget.
A no vote means
State employees keep the current system for negotiating wages and benefits without the automatic arbitration requirement.
Simple explanation
Right now, when state employees and the government disagree about pay and working conditions, they negotiate and sometimes get stuck. This measure says that if they can't agree, they have to bring in a neutral referee (called an arbitrator) to help settle the disagreement. It also makes sure the governor's budget includes whatever deal gets made for state workers.
Who's for it, who's against it
Support
- AFSCME Maryland
- American Federation of Teachers Maryland
- Christopher Cano, director of political and legislative affairs of SEIU Local 500
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26
- Jessica Cook on behalf of the Maryland State Education Association
- Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIO
- Maryland State Education Association
- Patrick Moran, presidnet of AFSCME Maryland
- SEIU Local 500
- State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance
- State Sen. Cory McCray (D)
Source: Ballotpedia