Baltimore’s city-owned buildings may be lacking security staff today, as the security guards are participating in a strike. This one-day strike has been assembled by Service Employees International Union’s Local 32BJ. 

• Who is striking? Security guards associated with with Abacus Corp., Metropolitan Protective Services and Urban Development Solutions will be on strike. 
• Why are they striking? The union claims the company barred security guards from unionizing, alleging that workers who participated in unions were discriminated against and even fired. The strike exists in protest of these actions by the company. 

Approximately 200 employees will be involved with the strike. Additionally, Odette Ramos and Jermaine Jones (members of the Baltimore City Council) are expected to be in attendance. 

Baltimore holds contracts with three organizations that provide armed and unarmed protection services at city-owned/leased properties, such as public-facing office buildings. However, the security guards are also responsible for patrolling parts of the city’s critical infrastructure and other essential services such as health clinics and even some police stations.