Maryland Classified Employee Association

What Maryland Classified Employee Association does

The Maryland Classified Employees Association (MCEA Local 1935) is a non-profit labor union representing classified public employees of the State of Maryland. Founded around 1930–1935 as a local of the American Federation of Teachers and affiliated with the AFL-CIO, MCEA holds exclusive bargaining representation rights for multiple state-agency bargaining units, negotiates collective bargaining agreements, and provides grievance handling, legislative advocacy, and member-benefit services. Its serving constituency spans two segments: active Maryland public-sector employees and a retiree base, the latter supported through retiree-area meetings, prescription-benefit lobbying, and dedicated communication channels. The operational scope is concentrated in Maryland, with five retiree-area meeting regions covering the state. The union's leadership consists of an elected Executive Board headed by President Marilyn Miller, headquartered at 7127 Rutherford Road, Baltimore, MD.

MCEA's commercial model is a subscription-style recurring revenue stream built on member dues; specific dues amounts and contract terms are not publicly disclosed and appear to vary by employment category and salary. Distribution and member acquisition run through three channels: a join portal at mcea.md.aft.org, field-driven workplace organizing campaigns, and a 2026-launched $20-referral-gift program underwritten by RK Tongue Insurance. Underlying technology is essentially infrastructure-light: a website/blog, an email newsletter, an SMS policy with opt-in messaging, and member management running on AFT.org's national portal — no proprietary software, mobile apps, or AI services are offered. Revenue-related disclosures are absent, with no publicly traded securities, no funding rounds, and no parent-company capital injection beyond the AFT affiliation.

The union's recent operational activity includes the addition of two new councils, active lobbying around HB0696 to restore retiree prescription benefits in the 2026 Maryland legislative session, and the publication of contract wins (e.g., University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science) and grievance outcomes (e.g., a District Court of Maryland employee whose three-day suspension was reduced through MCEA advocacy). Marketing communications are integrated across website, email, Facebook, and physical events; the UnionPlus partnership supplies discounted hearing benefits, pet insurance, and ID protection to members. Customer or member concentration data is not disclosed, though the in-memoriam for Past President Ruth Ogle (1955–2026) and ongoing executive-board transitions indicate continuous organizational governance.

Name

Maryland Classified Employee Association

Legal name

Maryland Classified Employees Association Local 1935, AFT, AFL-CIO

Website

https://mcea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MCEA Local 1935 is a Maryland non-profit labor union representing state public employees through collective bargaining, grievance handling, and legislative advocacy, with growing retiree services and member-benefit programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Services

NAICS

Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (81393), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAGAK

Labor Relations & Employment Practice Advisory

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Human Capital & Organizational Consulting

SECONDARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYBPACAGAH

Co-Employment Risk Management & Insurance (Workers’ Comp, Liability)

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Contract Staffing & Independent Contractor Management

Keywords

• Public sector union
• Collective bargaining
• Labor representation
• Grievance handling
• Member advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Union Membership Dues: Union generates revenue through membership dues from public employees and retirees. Dues support advocacy, representation, member benefits, and union operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MCEA sells labor union membership to Maryland public employees, providing workplace representation, collective bargaining, grievance handling, and legislative advocacy. Members also gain access to partner benefits (UnionPlus hearing, pet insurance, ID protection) and retiree prescription plan advocacy. Services are delivered to individual members across Maryland state agencies, councils, and universities, with membership dues as the primary revenue source.

Product overview

Maryland Classified Employees Association (MCEA) Local 1935 is a labor union representing public employees in Maryland, affiliated with AFT (American Federation of Teachers) and AFL-CIO. The organization does not offer technology products or software services; its core offerings are union membership, collective bargaining representation, legislative advocacy, member benefits programs, and retiree services. Services include grievance representation, workplace rights protection, retiree prescription plan advocacy, and member communication via SMS and email.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MCEA Union Membership Recurring-due union membership for Maryland public sector employees that confers representation rights, collective bargaining, grievance handling, legislative advocacy, and access to UnionPlus benefits. Available to active state workers and retirees across Maryland agencies, councils, and public universities.
• Collective Bargaining Representation Negotiation and ratification of collective bargaining agreements covering wages, benefits, leave accrual, on-call pay, holidays, and working conditions for councils of Maryland public employees including the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES).
• Grievance Representation Individual representation for members facing workplace discipline, suspension, or disputes, including advocacy in disciplinary hearings and grievance procedures for agencies such as the District Court of Maryland.
• Retiree Advocacy and Prescription Plan Services Advocacy and communications for retired Maryland state employees on retiree health and prescription benefits, including legislative testimony support and area-based retiree meetings across five Maryland regions.
• Member Benefits Program (UnionPlus Partnership) Access to UnionPlus benefits including hearing benefits, pet insurance, and ID protection, available exclusively to MCEA members through the AFT-affiliated UnionPlus program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Contract gains including faster annual leave accrual, increased on-call pay, extra holiday
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• RK Tongue InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance partner providing referral gift incentives ($20 per new member recruited) for member recruitment campaigns. Partnership supports union growth initiatives through financial incentives for members.
• UnionPlusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAFT-affiliated benefits program offering member benefits including hearing benefits, pet insurance, and ID protection. Provides exclusive discounts and services to union members.
• American Federation of Teachers (AFT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent national union organization; MCEA Local 1935 is affiliated as AFT Stateweb. Provides national union infrastructure, resources, organizing support, and political advocacy network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO: Statewide labor federation to which MCEA is indirectly affiliated. Operates at the broader federation level rather than direct worker representation, but shares legislative and political advocacy functions.
• National Education Association (NEA): Largest U.S. public-sector union, focused on educators but operating a similar member-funded collective bargaining and political advocacy model at a national scale far larger than MCEA.
• AFSCME International: International parent union of AFSCME Maryland Council 3 and the largest U.S. public-sector union. Comparable in mission (public-employee representation, collective bargaining) but operates at national scale with affiliated state councils.

Regional players

• New York State United Teachers (NYSUT): Statewide public-employee union in New York affiliated with AFT/AFL-CIO. Comparable mission and dues model for state-level public workers, but operating in a different geography with substantially larger scale.
• California State Employees Association (CSEA): California state employee association with a comparable dues-funded model of advocacy, retiree services, and member benefits. Operates in a different geography but solves the same problem of representing career state public employees.

Direct peers

• AFT Maryland: State federation of AFT in Maryland; MCEA Local 1935 is a constituent local within AFT Maryland. Directly comparable as a Maryland public-sector union federation sharing infrastructure, organizing staff, and political advocacy.
• Maryland State Education Association (MSEA): Maryland's statewide educators' association, also an AFT/AFL-CIO affiliate. Competes for the same Maryland public-sector worker base and operates a similar dues-funded advocacy and collective bargaining model.
• AFSCME Maryland Council 3: Maryland's largest state-employee union local representing a similar pool of Maryland public workers. Closest direct competitor for new council formations and member recruitment in the same state-employee segment.
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Maryland locals): National union with Maryland locals representing some public-sector workers. Comparable dues-funded model of collective bargaining and grievance representation for Maryland workers.
• SEIU Maryland State Council: SEIU's Maryland state council represents public and private-sector workers across the state. Comparable dues-funded advocacy, organizing, and grievance model competing for Maryland worker representation.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AFTunion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maryland-classified-employee-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maryland Classified Employee Association