UPDATE: Salisbury Union Ordinance Repeal Headed To 2027 Ballot
SALISBURY, Md. — Back in May, the Salisbury City Council voted 3-2 to repeal the city’s union ordinance, effectively ending collective bargaining for city employees. WMDT previously reported that city leaders cited budget concerns when making the decision.
Tonight, the Salisbury city council acknowledged the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and their petition, as the Wicomico County Board of Elections verified the group’s signatures. The council agreed to add the issue to the ballot and community members will have the opportunity to vote on it come November 2nd, 2027.
Chair of Shore Progress, Jared Shablein said, “I want to thank, take a moment to thank the amazing people of the city in just 37 days. We, Salisbury went across all five districts of every single Back well came together and successfully petitioned this issue to the ballot. We finished with 5818 valid signatures, 1782 more than the required number.”
Jack Hughes, a Union representative with AFSCME Maryland Council three said, “We will not stop until the last vote has been cast on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2027, to fight for our freedom to collectively bargain. We have already demonstrated what we can achieve when we stand together and fight. It doesn’t matter whether someone of the Democrat, Independent or Republican, the people of this community stand with us and share the same values we do. Workers deserve to have a voice on the job, the freedom to join a union and a freedom to collectively bargain. We will fight and we will win.”
President of Salisbury for firefighters local 4246, Brandon Records said, “I just wanted to take the moment, didn’t know what is going to transpire. But I thank you tonight, at least for letting the process go as it should.”
