Supporters urge constitutional amendment to enshrine right to organize; business and county groups oppose

Delegate Vogel presented House Bill 37, a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine the right to organize and join a union in Maryland’s constitution. Supporters from several unions said the change would expand workers’ protections and asked the legislature to advance the question to voters. "The collective strength of workers to negotiate for better paying benefits has eroded," said Roland Carter of IBEW Local 70, adding that union coverage nationally has fallen over decades.

Union speakers and organizers described personal and sectoral benefits of union representation. Nicole Denau described organizing activity and complaints she said were unresolved, and Zachary Frank, Christopher Connell (SEIU Local 500), and others argued that a constitutional amendment would ensure workers across industries have the right to organize and collectively bargain without fear of retaliation.

Opponents including the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) urged an unfavorable report. ABC's Marcus Jackson said federal law (the National Labor Relations Act) already protects organizing rights and warned that a constitutional amendment could create state-level duplication, regulatory uncertainty, and potential costs for businesses. MACo testified that counties have historically decided bargaining locally and estimated significant potential one‑time and recurring costs for counties that would permit collective bargaining, citing example estimates (Carrington Anderson noted a potential $1–2 million initial cost for Calvert County, with recurring costs of similar size).

Committee members listened to both sides; the transcript records testimony and questions but no committee action or vote in the hearing excerpt. Supporters urged letting voters decide the constitutional change if the legislature advances the proposal.