Security officers for Baltimore city buildings on strike over heat-related safety complaints, overtime violations, union says
Security officers for Baltimore city buildings and public housing units are going on strike Thursday, alleging safety violations and wage theft.
Their employer, Metropolitan Protective Services (MPS), is contracted by the city to provide security for the Baltimore City Housing Authority, including the Gilmor Homes, and other municipal buildings.
MPS employs 120 officers across these locations and receives more than $20 million in city funding, according to the organizers of Thursday's strike.
The non-union employees were set to go on strike at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, starting with a rally outside City Hall.
Why security officers say they're striking
The organizers allege MPS failed to provide legally required heat-related breaks or sufficient water to employees, including a pregnant woman, during last month's extreme heat.
On July 27, the union filed a complaint with Maryland Occupational Safety and Health, claiming MPS also failed to properly train employees on heat exposure and communicate with them when the heat index rose above 90 degrees.
On August 3, the union filed another complaint alleging wage and overtime payment violations. It cites more than 250 hours of unpaid or improperly paid overtime, with nearly $9,000 in missing wages across six employees.
2nd strike of 2026
This is their second strike so far this year. Organizers say six security officers filed unfair labor practices following the previous strike on April 9, claiming they were fired, sent home or removed from the schedule.
32BJ SEIU, the union representing the workers, has 190,000 members across 12 states, including 1,700 in Baltimore. It's the largest service workers union in the country, with members hailing from 64 different countries and speaking 28 different languages.
CBS News Baltimore has reached out to Metropolitan Protective Services for a comment on the latest strike. The CEO says he met with a local council member to discuss the union's claims.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
