Prince George’s County Council Presses for Answers on Library Employee Compensation
During the May 5 meeting of the Prince George’s County Council, several councilmembers raised concerns about the status of the outstanding collective bargaining agreement for employees at the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System and questioned county officials about funding for employee compensation in the FY26 budget.
Councilmembers Wanika Fisher, Eric Olson, and Krystal Oriadha pushed for answers regarding the allocation of funds for staff raises and emphasized the importance of reaching a fair agreement for library workers. Their comments suggested there may be additional FY26 supplemental funding available for employee compensation — an issue MCGEO representatives have been seeking clarification on for weeks.
The discussion reflects the continued impact of member advocacy and lobbying efforts aimed at securing a fair contract and improved wages for library employees.
Members interested in watching the discussion can view the May 5 County Council meeting here:
Prince George’s County Council Meeting Video
The library discussion begins at approximately the 28:30 mark.
Register Now: Quarterly Member Meetings – May 27
Our next Quarterly Membership Meetings are coming up, and we want to see you there.
Wednesday, May 27
We’re offering two options to make it easy to join:
11:00 AM Meeting
Register to Attend
6:00 PM Meeting
Register to Attend
These meetings are your chance to stay informed, ask questions, and stay connected with what’s happening across our union.
Don’t wait — secure your spot now. See you on May 27.
Building Strength on the Front Lines: New Shop Stewards Step Up
UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO proudly welcomed a new class of Shop Stewards during a recent Shop Steward Orientation led by Ryan Conlon and Aaron Smith.
The orientation marked the first step for these members as they take on one of the most important roles in the union. Shop Stewards are the backbone of our organization — serving as the first line of defense in the workplace and ensuring that the collective bargaining agreement is upheld every day.
During the session, new stewards received training on:
UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO President Gino Renne also met with the group, emphasizing the critical role stewards play in building and sustaining union strength. He thanked them for stepping up to represent their coworkers and made clear that strong, informed, and engaged stewards are essential to a strong union.
“Shop Stewards are the foundation of our union power,” Renne shared. “When members have someone they trust and can turn to in the workplace, that’s when our union is at its strongest.”
Taking on the role of Shop Steward is no small commitment. It requires leadership, dedication, and a willingness to stand up for others. But it’s also one of the most impactful ways members can make a difference — ensuring fairness, accountability, and respect on the job.
UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO thanks all of our new Shop Stewards for answering the call. We look forward to working alongside them as they begin their steward journey and continue strengthening our union from the ground up.
Local 1994 Secures Unanimous Funding Vote for Montgomery County Contract
UFCW Local 1994 secured a major victory this week, winning a unanimous vote from the Montgomery County Council to fully fund our Collective Bargaining Agreement — despite earlier threats to send us back to the negotiating table.
Before the vote, the Council signaled that reopening negotiations could mean cutting the COLA to 2% and stripping away wage and benefit improvements, including retirement enhancements. Instead, they chose a different path.
That shift didn’t happen by accident. It was driven by the powerful show of solidarity from our members — and by a County Council willing to engage in good-faith discussions and consider workable alternatives.
With strong turnout and visible unity at the Council hearing, Local 1994 made it clear: we will not accept rollbacks, and we will fight for what we’ve earned. At the same time, the Council’s openness to solutions outside of reopening the agreement helped create a path forward that respected both the bargaining process and the workforce.
The result? A unanimous vote that protects the full agreement and ensures every negotiated wage increase, benefit improvement, and workplace protection is implemented as intended.
This is what collective power looks like — members standing together and leaders willing to meet that moment.
“This unanimous vote shows just how strong we can be when we stand together,” said President Gino Renne. “True solidarity gets results. Thank you to everyone who showed up when asked.”
Union Representative/Organizers
Have issues in your workplace and need guidance? Reach out to your union representative. Call the office at 301-977-2447 or send an email. They are there to help.
