03/27/2026
Registered Behavior Technicians at Golden Steps ABA in Towson, Maryland, Vote to Join UFCW Local 27
For Immediate Release: March 27, 2026
Towson, MD — Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) at Golden Steps ABA in Towson, Maryland, voted on March 26 to form a union with UFCW Local 27. The RBTs help children with autism develop everyday skills with Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy.
This is the fourth union election win for Local 27 in March to cap a blockbuster month of organizing. The other organizing wins were at two cannabis dispensaries in Baltimore County and a Lush Cosmetics store in Harbor East.
The campaign was initially started and supported by the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC). EWOC is an organizing project devoted to helping campaigns get off the ground and then handing off the campaign to a union to administer union cards and file for recognition. The RBTs at Golden Steps chose to affiliate with Local 27.
The RBTs wanted to address numerous workplace issues through organizing: raises, cancellation pay, lack of federal holidays, insufficient PTO, low PTO accrual, improving health care, training policies, health and safety policies, and an unfair discipline system.
The RBTs also overcame an aggressive union busting campaign by the company. Golden Steps used a variety of methods to try to dissuade workers from starting a union including sending intimidating emails about unionizing from company executives, distributing flyers and articles that were misleading or rife with false information about unions, and management pulling RBTs aside to talk down the union. The company also hired a union buster whose sole intention was to intimidate, lie, mislead, and talk workers out of starting a union.
“Let this be a warning to every employer: union busting doesn’t work when workers stand together,” said Jason Chorpenning, President of Local 27. “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.”
The RBTs now head to the bargaining table with union representatives to negotiate better pay, benefits, and working conditions. This campaign is a testament to the RBTs coming together to win despite the company throwing the kitchen sink at them.
"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,” said Bula Pefok, an RBT for Golden Steps in Towson. “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.”
Local 27 represents several other workplaces in the therapy and family clinic industries and looks forward to negotiating a strong contract for the RBTs at Golden Steps.
# # #
About UFCW Local 27:
UFCW Local 27 represents more than 18,000 members in multiple industries across Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Local 27’s mission is to secure a living wage, good benefits and a positive work environment for our members. We provide a voice and representation for our members so they have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.
