On Wednesday, officials announced that the city and the PHILADELPHIAA union, which represents thousands of city employees in Philadelphia, had struck an agreement to stop residential curbside garbage pickup and other services.
After talks with the city failed, over 10,000 blue-collar workers from District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees demanded greater wages and benefits.
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In contrast to the union’s demand for 5% yearly salary increases, the tentative deal offers workers a 3% boost in each of the following three years. According to Mayor Cherelle Parker, the majority of members will be eligible at the end of the contract, and half of them will receive an extra 2% raise through an additional level on the pay scale.
Parker begged for patience while pools, libraries, recreation centers, and other services return to normal. He said residential garbage collection will start on Monday.
At a press conference, Parker stated, “This is a very significant investment in our employees while at the same time ensuring that we as a city are living by our means.”
Of the four main unions that represent city workers, District Council 33 is the biggest. Among its members are water department employees, garbage collectors, 911 dispatchers, and several others. Firefighters and police did not participate in the walkout.
According to Parker, DC33 employees will have gotten a 14% wage increase overall over her four-year term, which includes a 5% one-year raise she granted to all four unions after taking office last year.
Despite the fact that rubbish was piling up in neighborhoods, many locals appeared to be in favor of increasing DC33 employees’ compensation. According to the union, their average annual salary is $46,000.
The accord still needs to be ratified by union members.
Actor Rich Henkels, who recently relocated to the city, described the settlement as disappointing.
According to Henkels, 64, the announced rises are ineffective for the workers and their families since they will not keep up with inflation.
Early on the ninth day of the strike—which includes the holiday weekend—the settlement was made public. A few of the 60 drop-off locations set aside by the city for residential waste. Recreation centers had shortened hours, while the majority of the city’s libraries and part of its pools were closed.
Judges this week sided with the city in directing that certain key personnel return to work at the city’s airport, water agency, and 911 centers.
In brief remarks Wednesday morning, union president Greg Boulware told reporters, “We did the best we could with the circumstances we had in front of us.”
