By a vote of 435-205, professional staff at the University of Maryland, College Park voted yesterday to form a bargaining unit with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The unit will consist of about 1,000 counselors, coordinators and other employees. Nonprofessional staff at the campus voted to join AFSCME last year and have been fighting for higher pay and lower parking fees.

The election represents a major victory for AFSCME, coming at the state's largest university and among employees who were initially wary of the union.

More than 6,500 workers statewide have joined AFSCME under a state law that allows collective bargaining by nonfaculty staff at state campuses.