University staff union urges protections after layoffs, criticizes contracting and classification

Todd Holden, president of ASPE Local 1072, told the committee he was speaking on behalf of more than 6,200 staff across the University System of Maryland and thanked the committee for budgeted funding for negotiated raises. He said staff at smaller campuses have borne disproportionate cuts and cited layoffs at Frostburg State and the University of Baltimore.

"We represent the lowest paid employees in the system, and they are struggling with the same affordability issues that all Marylanders are now," Holden said. He asked the General Assembly and USM to coordinate with the union to ensure equitable treatment when fund reductions are contemplated.

Holden raised workplace concerns including widespread misclassification of titles, continued use of outside contractors doing bargaining‑unit work, and long periods in contingent hire status without full benefits. He called for fair classification resolutions at the system level, stronger limits on outsourcing that erodes bargaining units and telework policy parity for non‑student‑facing positions at College Park.

The testimony concluded with a request that legislators consider classification and compensation study results in upcoming negotiations and to work with the union to mitigate unequal impacts of future budget actions.