What is the status of bargaining?

We are at impasse. What is impasse? Simply stated, impasse is the point in which one side or both sides agree that we can make no further progress. In other words, we are at a deadlock.

What is process going forward?

Under state law, the MD State Labor Board assigns a mediator to work with us (SAAAAC & the BOE) to attempt to reach a tentative agreement. If we cannot reach a tentative agreement, the mediator issues a report/recommendation to the state labor board. The state labor board then must decide who to “side with”: SAAAAC, the BOE, or the Mediator. 

How long will it take to complete this process?

Unknown. Once we have been assigned a Mediator, we will have a better idea. 

What are the issues at stake?

1.       Article 2.4 - Binding Arbitration – Proposed by SAAAAC

• Simply stated, if SAAAAC would decide to push a denied grievance to arbitration, a neutral third-party would decide the issue and his/her decision would be FINAL and BINDING on both parties.
•  Currently, the (elected) BOE members have the right to reject and/or modify the decision of the arbitrator. Thus, forcing us into court in an effort to not comply with the ruling.

2.       Article 4.9 - Sub Pay - Proposed by SAAAAC

•  Increase the amounts to $40 (half day) and $80 (full day).
• Add language to the effect that if you miss or are denied your two 15-minute breaks and/or your 30-minute (or any portion thereof) duty-free lunch, you will be monetarily compensated.
•  Add language that limits the number of days that a TA or Technician can provide sub service to 45 duty days per school year. Many people are tired of being exploited. Many have expressed that they did not sign up to be a “teacher”. They just want to do the job they signed up for.

3.       Article 4.6 (Emergency Closings) – Proposed by the BOE

• Eliminate the two (2) Code Blue days that School Based Secretaries do not report for duty. Thus, forcing them to use leave or report for duty.
• The rationale stated by the BOE Team is that want to treat everyone "equally". Take a look at bullet number 8.

4.       Article 4.16 (Teacher of Record -New Provision) - Proposed by SAAAAC

• No Unit IV employee shall serve as the Teacher of Record.
• This directly ties into our proposal on Article 4.9 (Sub Pay). TAs are being forced to provide teaching services for excessive amounts of time (50 days, 80 days, 120 days) and are assuming all the responsibilities of the teacher without the compensation that a teacher would receive.

5.       Article 5 (Interactions with Students – New Provision) – Proposed by the

BOE

• “Unit IV employees shall maintain appropriate and professional interactions with students at all times, including outside of school hours and through electronic communication. Unit IV employees shall ensure that all exchanges, whether in person, via phone, or any other digital platform, align with the highest professional and ethical standards.
• What do the above bold words mean to you? Do you think we all share the same definition? Why does the BOE want to control us “outside of school hours”? Why would the BOE want to give employees "permission" to engage with students via "electronic communications" when the current BOE Policy on Social Media prohibits such?
• Is this a set-up?

6.       Article 7.4 (Placement on Salary Schedule) - Proposed by SAAAAC

• Increase promotion rates to 7.5% and 12.5%

7.       Article 11.10 (Personal Business) - Proposed by SAAAAC

•  Increase Personal Business for 191s and 200s from 2.5 days to 3 days. Cap remains at 5 days.

8.       Article 13 (Holidays) – Proposed by the BOE

•  Prohibit 12-Month School Based Secretaries from receiving “Paid Holidays” for the full week of Winter Break and Spring Break.
• Effectively, making them (School Based Secretaries) the ONLY group of 12-month employees within AACPS that would not get paid for those days.
• Principals = PAID
•  12-Month Teachers = PAID
•  Custodians = PAID
• Superintendent = PAID
• We won the arbitration requiring the BOE to “pay” us for those days but they don’t seem to want to accept the defeat. There is only one thing to call this… RETAILIAITON.

9.       Article 14.1 (Healthcare) - Proposed by SAAAAC

• Freeze/Roll Back Health Insurance Premium Split Increase. No increase in premium split on January 1, 2027.

10.  Article 15.1 (Annual Salaries) – Both SAAAAC and BOE

• Although we agree with the 3% and step to all eligible, because of the items contained in this summary, this too must go to impasse and can only be implemented once we have a complete Tentative Agreement. We did ask the BOE if they would like to enter into an agreement that would implement the raises on July 1, they were not interested.
• The BOE refuses to add language or recognize the calculation of the number of workdays for School Based Secretaries must be agreed upon by BOTH parties (SAAAAC and BOE). Since they lost the arbitration, they want to dictate the number of workdays and be able to implement what they believe to be correct without the consent of SAAAAC.

11.  Article 15.6 (Severance Pay on Retirement) - Proposed by SAAAAC

• Increase Sick Leave payout upon retirement to $55

12.  Article 15.9 (Career Ladder – New Provision) - Proposed by SAAAAC

•  Ensure that every Unit IV position has a Career Ladder option.
• We proposed to start with Secretary I, Secretary II, and TA: Permanent Sub. Then proceed to other titles in the subsequent years.

We should have all paperwork associated with the declaration of impasse completed and mailed to the state labor board by Wednesday of next week.

We are preparing for a “mass” email campaign to begin once the paperwork has been delivered to the state board. Keep an eye on your email this summer. We will be sending to your work and personal email addresses.