Roughly 40 union faculty gathered recently in the lobby of a campus theater ahead of Howard Community College’s annual convocation to voice frustration over contract negotiations.

As administrators, other faculty members and guests arrived for the event, the protesting teachers held signs, handed out flyers and gave speeches. But shortly after they began, union organizers say, campus security escorted them outside, citing a policy that college premises cannot be used for unauthorized events.

The removal of union protesters from the building last Friday reflects the strained relations between the HCC faculty and the administration of the college president, Daria Willis.

It came some 17 months after more than 80% of HCC’s 170 full-time faculty and 100 faculty from Frederick Community College filed for union recognition with the American Federation of Teachers.

While the union says it has offered more than two dozen proposals to increase salaries, establish grievance procedures and more for what would be its first-ever contract, they say HCC’s administration has moved slowly.

“Stop the stalling — let’s get to the table,” said Alejandro Muzzio, a five-year union faculty member who teaches anthropology.

The college administration repeatedly says how much it cares about the faculty, but its actions speak otherwise, Muzzio said.

“Clearly you don’t care. You have failed to make any contract progress,” Muzzio said. “We’re doing our part, but where’s the administration?”

A college spokesperson, Jarrett Carter, did not respond to requests for comment about the negotiations or the rally.

According to HCC’s policy, while the college recognizes the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly, “these activities must not disrupt or disturb the educational and operational functions of the college.”

The policy acknowledges demonstrations or rallies may occur spontaneously, but says they “shall not take place inside college buildings without at least three days explicit prior written authorization by the college president or designee.” It specifically prohibits demonstrators from blocking stairways, walkways, entrances and exits from buildings, or roadways and free movement around campus.

Muzzio, who is also the academic coordinator for the Anthropology Department, said participants did not block any doorways or foot traffic patterns and smiled as they passed out flyers.

The rally “was a show of strength,” Muzzio said, to let the administration know “we are still here.”

In filing for union recognition in August 2023, faculty members said they were continuously disrespected by administrators and under constant threat of dismissal, according to a union news release.

The Baltimore Banner reported in November that about two dozen current and former HCC employees and students described high staff turnover and a toxic culture under Willis that they said negatively affected staff and student services.

When the union went to present its certified paperwork to the president’s office, organizers were locked out initially, according to three union members who attended. The union had a public safety team member go to human resources to talk with the department and have them accept the letter, a union representative said.

Despite the controversy, HCC trustees recently extended Willis’ contract through June 2028. And she’s been supported by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

Howard County’s state senators have submitted three names to Gov. Wes Moore to fill three vacancies on the seven-member HCC board. The lawmakers also filed a bill to add two new members to the board, a move Willis said she supports.

The union says it has presented 30 proposals to the college for consideration, but the college has offered little in return, with high turnover on the college’s side of the bargaining table.

“We are following the rules,” Muzzio said. “Collective bargaining was passed, and we want substantive responses to our proposals.”

The Maryland General Assembly approved collective bargaining for community colleges in 2021. It went into effect in September 2022.

Back in August 2023, the college said it “welcomed” the faculty’s union.

“As HCC and AFT embark on this new chapter of cooperation, both parties look forward to working closely together. The shared goal is to cultivate an environment that promotes excellence, innovation, and the continued advancement of education,” HCC said at the time.

Since September, the two parties have met seven times for collective bargaining, according to Board of Trustees meeting documents. The last meeting was Jan. 22.

Additional meetings are on the calendar through April 1.