Non-union security officers employed by Abacus are set to walk off the job Thursday morning, with a rally planned at Baltimore City Hall at 11:30 a.m. Organizers say City Councilmembers Odette Ramos, Jermaine Jones and Mark Parker are expected to join the demonstration.
Union: unfair labor practice charges led to walkout
Representatives of the Service Employees International Union say the planned walkout follows unfair labor practice charges filed against Abacus in 2025 and 2026 that accuse the company of discrimination, coercion and firing workers for taking part in legally protected union activity, according to WMAR 2 News. Union organizers say officers turned to collective action after months of complaints about pay and what they describe as unaffordable health coverage.
Company denies the allegations
Abacus pushed back in a written statement, calling the union notice "inaccurate and misleading" and saying it provides full-time security officers assigned to the city with wages of $25.00 per hour along with health, dental and vision benefits, according to WMAR 2 News. The company said it will maintain service levels during the action and invited employees to raise concerns in what it described as good-faith dialogue.
This fight fits into a larger push
The protest is the latest step in a longer organizing campaign. Officers working for Abacus have pressed for union representation and stronger benefits since 2025, and city leaders recently moved to establish higher minimum compensation standards for security staff, as reported in a big pay bump. Organizers say those local rules, combined with an expiring procurement cycle, give workers added leverage as contracts come up for renegotiation.
City contracts and money at stake
Baltimore procurement records show that Abacus provides unarmed security services to roughly 150 city buildings and that short-term 2025 emergency and select-source agreements raised base pay to about $18.50 per hour while the city completes a formal solicitation, according to Baltimore City Comptroller documents. The filings indicate that more than 300 officers are assigned across multiple agencies and that the stopgap contracts were designed to prevent interruptions in coverage during the procurement process.
Officials weigh in
Local officials have lined up on both sides of the dispute. Councilmembers say they plan to attend Thursday's rally and stress that city contractors must comply with living-wage and procurement rules. Local reporting has also noted that the city has paid Abacus more than $45 million since 2017, a figure organizers use to argue that the company should meet higher labor standards, according to WBAL-TV.
Legal stakes
Unfair labor practice charges are typically handled by the National Labor Relations Board, which investigates complaints and can seek remedies such as reinstatement or back pay if it finds violations, according to the NLRB. The process can move slowly, and many disputes end in settlement or bargaining before a formal hearing.
The walkout and rally at City Hall are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Organizers say the action is meant to pressure the city to insist on contractor compliance or pursue a replacement, while Abacus says it will keep services running and defend its practices. We will follow the rally, any new filings, and any city response and update coverage as events develop.
