Baltimore City Council Approves Wage Increase for Security Officers

The Baltimore City Council has passed a significant bill that will increase wages and improve benefits for commercial security officers, sending it to the mayor for final approval.

Council leaders assert that this legislation is designed to ensure that security workers can achieve a basic standard of living. City Council President Zeke Cohen and Councilman Jermaine Jones expressed their support for the bill during a news conference, alongside union representatives.

Jaime Contreras, Executive Vice President of the 32BJ SEIU union, emphasized the importance of this legislation, particularly during Black History Month, as a majority of security officers in Baltimore are Black. He stated, "We look forward to seeing this bill become law as soon as possible because Baltimore workers of color cannot afford to wait any longer."

The 32BJ SEIU represents over 1,800 members in the Baltimore area, advocating for improved working conditions and pay.

Passed on Monday, the bill mandates that security employers must compensate their officers at least at the rate provided to federally contracted officers under the Service Contract Act or the average wage for security officers within the city, whichever is greater. This compensation can be a combination of wages and benefits or provided entirely in cash.

Currently, federally contracted officers in Baltimore earn $18.29 per hour, along with a health supplement of $5.55 per hour. They also receive between 2 to 4 weeks of vacation and 11 paid holidays annually. In contrast, many local security officers are earning approximately $15.80 an hour.

This new legislation could positively impact nearly 4,500 security workers in the city, addressing ongoing concerns about inadequate pay that has made it difficult for many to meet their basic needs.

Union leaders have highlighted that the low wages contribute to high employee turnover rates, which they argue poses risks to public safety. Contreras noted that some estimates suggest turnover could be as high as 300% annually, resulting in fewer experienced officers available to manage emergencies and identify potential risks.

Reported by HarborBeat based on CBS News (source).