Congrats to the RBTs at Golden Steps ABA, Towson, Maryland, for winning the second union vote in Maryland and the second victory in 2026 for workers in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis!
This campaign was facilitated by the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC), which has supported many other ABA worker campaigns, including Compass Behavioral Group (Virginia) and Aspire Learning Center (Massachusetts). The RBTs at Golden Steps fought hard to affiliate with UFCW Local 27.
The RBTs at Golden Steps face many of the same issues as RBTs across the industry: lack of cancellation pay and limited or no paid time off (such as federal holidays, sick days, or vacation time). They also organized for safety, healthcare, and a more just disciplinary system.
It cannot be understated how much of an achievement this is. Employers in the field are never shy about discouraging worker solidarity, and Golden Steps ABA was no exception. UFCW 27 reports that Golden Steps management launched an aggressive union-busting campaign, including sending intimidating emails, distributing anti-union flyers and articles, and management pulling RBTs aside to talk them down from organizing. The company also spent money they could have allocated to much-needed pay raises for the RBTs to hire an outside union-busting firm to further chill organizing.
Well, that didn't work. The RBTs stood strong and stayed united, and won on March 26th, 2026.
Jasoon Chorpenning, President of Local 27, stated:
"Let this be a warning to every employer: union busting doesn’t work when workers stand together. Golden Steps tried to scare, mislead, and pressure these RBTs, but all it did was strengthen their resolve. I am beyond proud of these workers and of our organizing department, who fearlessly take on these fights and keep winning for working people.”
We welcome these RBTs as they join four other unionized groups of RBTs, BCaBAs, and BCBAs in fighting for a fair contract, which will enshrine better pay, benefits, and working conditions.
Bula Pefok, an RBT and organizer at Golden Steps, was quoted by UFCW in their press release following the win: "Because of my strong passion for supporting children with autism, I felt inspired to fight for the change I wish to see — not only at Golden Steps, but in the field and culture of ABA as a whole. I’m proud of my fellow employees for winning the election despite the odds, and I look forward to working with Local 27 to achieve our goals.”
CONGRATULATIONS, Bula - and solidarity with every worker in the field taking a stand for themselves, their coworkers, and their clients. Together, towards a union for all workers in Applied Behavior Analysis. Our working conditions are our clients' learning conditions - and it's about time this field learned to treat its workers fairly.