We are pleased to announce that the Baltimore Board of Estimates ratified the collective bargaining agreement with the City Union of Baltimore, Local 800, AFT, AFL-CIO this morning. This was a hard-fought contract, and we stood strong for every one of our members and everyone in our bargaining unit.
City Union of Baltimore President, Antoinette Ryan-Johnson spoke at today’s BOE meeting and stated, “today is not just about approving a contract. Today is about recognition, fairness, and progress. Behind every service this city provides, there are dedicated public servants making it happen every single day. For many years, a number of these employees have carried out critical responsibilities while their compensation lagged similar positions in comparable jurisdictions. This agreement changes that. This historic contract is the result of a comprehensive and data-driven study of job classifications that carefully evaluated our members’ duties and compared them to like jurisdictions across the country. The findings were clear: many of our members have been significantly undercompensated for the level of work, responsibility, and expertise they provide to this city every day.
As a result of this agreement, many union members will receive significant and well-deserved wage increases that better align their compensation with the true value of their work. These raises are not giveaways. They are earned! This contract is about more than wages; it is about retention—keeping experienced employees in positions that are essential to city operations. It is recruitment—ensuring Baltimore continues to attract qualified professionals to public service. It is about stability, morale, and maintaining the institutional knowledge that keeps this city functioning. And ultimately, it is about providing the residents of Baltimore with the services they deserve. When we support the people who serve Baltimore, we strengthen Baltimore itself. Let today send a clear message to the members of the City Union of Baltimore, who keep this city running—your service matters, your sacrifices are seen, and your value is recognized.”
We will be holding follow up meetings to review the contract and next steps in the implementation. Please attend one of these meetings to get updated information:
Tuesday, May 12, 2026: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 14, 2026: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The meetings will be held at the CUB union office, 2117 N Howard St.
These meetings will be for CUB dues paying members only.
You can become a member at these meetings.
2026-05-06 City Union of Baltimore