From The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS), by Sean Collins Walsh
Top officials from Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration and leaders of the main union for city workers in Philadelphia engaged in a protracted contract negotiation session that started on Sunday, lasted through the night, and concluded on Monday morning.
According to a spokesperson for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33, which represents the city’s nearly 10,000 blue collar workers, such as trash collectors, 911 operators, and mechanics, the two sides left just after 11 a.m. without a new contract and with hours remaining before a midnight deadline to reach an agreement before a possible strike.
Greg Boulware, the president of the union, reaffirmed on Saturday that if a compromise is not struck by the time the union’s current contract expires on Monday at midnight, he plans to call for a strike. Of the four major unions for city workers, DC 33 members have the lowest wages, and Boulware has promised to secure large pay increases.
“The only way it will be truly meaningful is if you show our people that you appreciate their labor in their wallet,” Boulware stated in an interview. I’m adamant that we will go on break if we don’t reach an agreement by midnight on June 30.
In the event that the new Trump administration increases immigration enforcement, activists want Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker to pledge to defend the city’s sanctuary policy.Rourke, Matt/AP
In the past, Philadelphia’s municipal unions have frequently worked on the terms of expiring contracts rather than going on strike while new agreements were negotiated. In those situations, workers usually received retroactive pay for raises that were part of the new agreement. Furthermore, it is unlikely that any of Philadelphia’s other three main municipal unions for law enforcement, firefighters, and white-collar employees like managers and healthcare providers will have a contract in effect by July 1st this year.
However, before he calls for a strike that would result in trash accumulating on sidewalks and city services being shut down in advance of the city’s July Fourth celebrations next weekend, Boulware has stated that this is the last chance for the Parker administration to come to an agreement with DC 33.
Parker posted a long video on social media on Saturday outlining the city’s stance: Parker is providing the union with raises totaling more than 12% in her first term, which would be more than any mayor has given DC 33 in a single term in the previous three decades. This is in addition to the 5% raise she gave DC 33 members last year and the more than 7% in combined raises she is proposing for the next three years.
According to the mayor’s office, the biggest pay raise DC 33 members have ever gotten in a single term was 11.5% under former Mayor Jim Kenney. Parker’s offer, as it was last known to the public, would have been 12.2% over four years.
My administration is collaborating with District Council 33 to accomplish what is vital and required, which is a fair and financially prudent contract, as an unreservedly pro-labor, pro-union, and pro-worker mayor, Parker stated.
The cityscape of Philadelphia as viewed from Camden, New Jersey’s waterfront across the Delaware River on July 13, 2024. Trimble, N. Scott | [email protected], N. Scott | strimble@syra
Last week, Parker’s administration upgraded the proposal to a three-year contract with raises of 2%, 2.4%, and 3% after first offering a four-year contract with 2% annual hikes.
Boulware stated on Saturday that the city’s offer from Friday contained a fifth step in the contract’s wage scale, which could be very profitable for long-term city workers, but it also included the same schedule of hikes.
Last Thursday, the union lowered its demands from a four-year agreement with 8% increments to 5.75% yearly raises.
Following the overnight negotiation session, it is unclear where the two sides stand.
This tale is still in progress and will be updated.
Philadelphia Inquirer, 2025. Go to the Inquirer website. Tribune Content Agency, LLC is the distributor.
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