Salisbury City Council ends collective bargaining for city employees and first responders

SALISBURY, Md. — The Salisbury City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday night to repeal the union ordinance, effectively ending union representation for city employees.

In April, the Salisbury mayor’s office proposed eliminating the union because of mounting financial pressure in the fiscal year budget. Employees and community members filled the council chamber and spoke in opposition to the repeal, while one speaker voiced support.

Salisbury resident Megan Outten said, “I’m feeling like many of our city residents right now, which is really disappointed. We had a great turnout of city residents and workers alike who said they opposed this decision.”

Community members and first responders spoke during public comment for the final time before the vote, voicing opposition to the repeal. Their comments did not change the outcome.

Salisbury resident Joe Venosa said, “I think a lot of us knew it would come this way. The vote was not surprising after the previous weeks.”

Some community members blamed the result on low voter turnout.

Shore Progress Chair Jared Schablein said, “It shows why people don’t trust politics. In the city of Salisbury, 18% of voters showed up in the last election.”

Councilwomen Angela Blake and Michele Gregory voted against the repeal, while Councilwomen April Jackson, Sharon Dashiell and Melissa D. Holland voted in favor of it.

Councilwoman Melissa D. Holland said her decision to support the repeal was based on the city’s fiscal responsibility.

“In December, I took an oath that I was going to be a steward of finances. There is no way I could sit behind this table tonight and not pass the vote. I voted based strictly on the budget,” Holland said.

Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor expressed a similar sentiment.

“We tried to go about it a different way, but unfortunately our hand was forced,” Taylor said.

For Salisbury Fire Union Local 4246 President Brandon Records, recruitment and retention remain significant concerns.

“Sadly, I don’t know how much worse it’s going to get before it gets better,” Records said. “I can almost assure you that it’s going to get worse. For the citizens, I’m sorry, but I just don’t know how bad it’s going to be.”

As the vote was announced, community members walked out of the chamber and promised to launch a petition Wednesday morning.

Petitioners must gather signatures from at least 20% of registered voters — about 3,600 signatures in Salisbury — to get the issue on the ballot.