governor.maryland.gov · September 7, 2026
Governor Moore Announces Minimum Wage Increase for BWI Workers, Emergency Legislation to Reform Secure Maryland Wage Act | The Office of Governor Wes Moore
# Governor Moore Announces Minimum Wage Increase for BWI Workers, Emergency Legislation to Reform Secure Maryland Wage Act
Press Release | Monday, September 7, 2026
Updated: Monday, September 7, 2026
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Moore today announced a minimum wage increase to $18 an hour for direct Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) contract workers at Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Thurgood Marshall Airport. He also committed to introducing emergency legislation at the beginning of the 2027 legislative session to create a pathway to raising the minimum wage for indirect contract workers at BWI Airport by reforming and extending the Secure Maryland Wage Act.
“To keep BWI competitive, we believe that employers that serve the airport must make a meaningful increase to its minimum wage with annual increases and paid leave for employees covered by the Secure Maryland Wage Act," said Gov. Moore. “Employers must also provide covered airport workers with a health and welfare supplement to ensure these workers have a path to receive quality, employer-paid health insurance.”
The Governor made the announcement today at a Labor Day event with 32BJ SEIU leadership, and Maryland Secretary of Transportation Katie Thomson, directing the Maryland Department of Transportation to ensure no airport workers under a direct contract with the Maryland Aviation Administration are paid less than $18 an hour, increasing the wages of BWI’s lowest paid workers who support the safe and efficient operation of BWI Airport.
“BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport is one of the backbones of Maryland’s economy and MDOT is proud to support the Moore-Miller Administration’s efforts to secure this talented workforce,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. “Investing in valuable assets – like our dedicated airport workers – is a core focus for the department and will strengthen BWI Marshall’s competitive edge as we continue to add new services and improve the existing experience for residents and visitors alike.”
Governor Moore also committed to proposing emergency legislation early in the 2027 legislative session to extend and reform the Secure Maryland Wage Act, which expires this year. The Secure Maryland Wage Act, originally passed in 2021, increased wages for contract workers of the MAA, but excluded the approximately 700-800 BWI workers not directly contracted by the MAA. The emergency legislation proposal would create a pathway to providing economic security and a sustainable income for all workers that support BWI—not just those under contract with the State of Maryland.
“We are grateful to Governor Moore for providing a sorely needed wage increase for some of our BWI airport workers,” said 32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich. “This Labor Day, we stand united in demanding more for the essential workers who keep BWI Airport running. Fair wages, quality health insurance, and paid time off are not just basic necessities for the workers who clean planes, secure terminals, and assist passengers—they help BWI retain the skilled, experienced workforce necessary to keep our airport safe. Amending the Secure Maryland Wage Act is an affordable, commonsense solution that will solve the retention crisis at our airport and raise standards for everyone.”
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