BALTIMORE – Mayor Brandon Scott is addressing allegations of bullying within the Baltimore City Building Department.

There have been repeated calls for immediate changes in the treatment of Baltimore DPW workers.

“We definitely know the culture needs to change,” said Dorothy Bryant, president of AFSCME Local 44.

The agency has been under fire for weeks after a report by Baltimore’s Inspector General said the DPW fails to provide cold water or cooling options to its workers while working in extreme temperatures and that DPW facilities need extensive renovations.

But the situation reached a head last week when DPW employee Ronald Silver II died because his body overheated while at work.

“The toxic culture at DPW must be eradicated,” said Patrick Moran, president of AFSCME Council 3.

On Tuesday, union leaders and three city council members met to demand that the city not only improve working conditions but also address the “toxic culture” within the DPW.

“The harassment, intimidation and bullying must stop,” Moran said. “This type of behavior is unacceptable.”

Mayor Scott sends a warning

The following day, Mayor Brandon Scott confirmed the allegations regarding workplace culture and issued a stern warning.

“I want this to be heard and made very clear: Anyone who mistreats our employees or does anything similar and we catch them doing it will be held accountable,” Scott said.

He also said he and the new DPW director, who took office earlier this year, are working to find solutions, including more training, renovating DPW facilities and possibly making workload changes.

“We need to start changing that culture and investing in those workers,” Scott said.

The president of AFSCME Local 44, which represents some of the DPW workers, told WJZ she felt the city was making an effort.

The union will meet with city leaders on August 28 to ensure the changes are implemented soon.

“Things seem to be moving in the right direction, but they’re not yet where we would call them good,” Bryant said.

Ronald Silver’s death is being investigated by the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

We reached out to the DPW directly for comment on the allegations of toxic work culture, and a spokesperson told us the agency stands by Mayor Scott’s comments.