Baltimore's Department of Public Works (DPW) employees are raising concerns about the state of their facilities, according to recent reports by the Inspector General. A series of inspections have highlighted issues ranging from lack of basic amenities like toilet paper and cool air to safety risks due to poor building maintenance and oversight, workers have stepped forward to share their experiences of what it's like to work under these conditions, as reported by CBS News Baltimore.
A report released by the Baltimore Inspector General documented that conditions within nine DPW facilities showed a grim picture, including broken sinks, a shortfall of toilet paper, and air conditioning units barely functioning. Photos taken by the Inspector General's office illustrate the extent of the decay, painting a stark image of the work environment that DPW's staff face daily. “It’s a sad statement,” Stancil McNair, a DPW worker stated, as per CBS News Baltimore, adding that in his view, "prisoners get treated better than we do, as far as, they get everything they’re supposed to have."
Following up on these findings, Isabel Cumming, Baltimore's Inspector General, noted that employees were being subjected to work in the heat without access to water or proper cooling facilities. In a statement, according to WMAR-2 News, McNair described feeling "helpless" when it comes to the working conditions, saying, “We come into a workplace where our essentials are not met at all, you gotta ask for them.”
Addressing these widespread grievances, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott acknowledged the dire situation, pledging an investment of $20 million toward new facilities for the DPW. He emphasized the lack of past investments and promised that his administration would build new facilities that “our workers deserve.” Escalating concerns from workers, the City Union of Baltimore released a statement condemning the city for not providing healthy and safe working environments for its labor force, as detailed by CBS News Baltimore.
