Thousands of city workers in Philadelphia went on strike Tuesday, disrupting trash pickup, 911 dispatch for fire and police, and water and street repairs.
Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 33 walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday after failing to reach an agreement during a “marathon negotiation session” over the weekend.
“Despite our best efforts to advocate on your behalf, the lack of progress on critical matters such as fair wages and comprehensive healthcare benefits remains a significant concern,” the union said in a statement shared on social media in the early hours of Saturday.
“These issues are at the core of our negotiations, and we are committed to ensuring they are not overlooked,” union leaders said, adding they were moving forward with strike plans.
“District Council 33 is now on strike!!!” leaders said in a social media post early Tuesday morning. “Hold the lines.”
DC 33 represents around 9,000 of the city’s municipal workers, including those in sanitation, the water department, police dispatch, street maintenance and the airport.
Under their initial proposal, union leaders demanded 8% annual raises over three years, cost-of-living increases and bonuses of up to $5,000 for employees who worked through the pandemic.
Additionally, the union requested that the city cover the full cost of health care — or $1,700 per worker per month.
On Monday, Mayor Cherelle Parker said the city was “fully prepared to continue operations and services” in the event of a strike, outlining precautionary measures to ensure residents would still receive critical services.
Starting Tuesday, curbside trash and recycling collections are temporarily suspended, and residents are being asked to dispose of trash at six sanitation convenience centers and around 60 temporary drop-off sites.
Limited staffing may also lead to “longer than usual” wait times for non-emergency water services and the Department of Streets will maintain “appropriate levels of staffing” to keep traffic signals, signs, roads, bridges, and streetlights operating safely, officials said.
Parker, a pro-labor Democrat, also vowed to keep Fourth of July celebrations in place.
“Keep your holiday plans. Don’t leave the city,” she told reporters in a news conference Monday afternoon.
On Tuesday, Parker maintained that the city has “put its best offer on the table,” but the union hasn’t accepted it.
With News Wire Services
