New pact would give 5,000 state workers a 3% raise

Nearly 5,000 professional employees working across state government agencies are set to receive a 3 percent pay raise next year under a new contract announced Tuesday by the Hogan administration. Members of the Maryland Professional Employees Council still have to ratify the deal with secret ballots at their Dec. 8 meeting, as Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration faces tough negotiations with AFSCME, state government’s largest union. MPEC’s top negotiator said she was “satisfied” with the agreement. “This is the second consecutive year of being able to work with the governor’s team to get much-needed pay raises for the professional employees of the state,” said Jacquelyn Raines, MPEC’s interim executive director and chief negotiator. But, Raines added, the employees are still “substantially behind in pay raises” after nearly eight years without increases following the 2007-08 recession. Negotiations for the deal began in October. In addition to the 3 percent cost-of-living increase that kicks in July 1, the state agreed to provide an additional 1 percent bump starting Jan. 1, 2020, if state revenues exceed projections by $75 million. Further, the state is providing a student loan repayment program that will pay for up to $20,000 in student loans for employees in technology, engineering and forensic science positions. If the 1 percent portion kicks in, the deal’s total cost to the state