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Philadelphia strike: AFSCME D.C. 33 workers off job; services impacted [1]
['Updated Jul.']
Date: 2025-07
Philadelphia’s largest blue-collar union is on strike following weeks of negotiations over pay.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33 represents 9,000 city workers, including sanitation workers, city mechanics, 911 dispatchers and school crossing guards.
This is the union’s first major strike in nearly 40 years, when a 20-day strike led to trash piling up on city streets.
What is the status of negotiations between AFSCME DC33 and the Parker administration?
The head of District Council 33 broke his silence Wednesday about the union’s contract dispute with the city.
After telling reporters they were going back to the bargaining table, DC33 leader Greg Boulware did not sound optimistic anything would come of the talks.
“Quite honestly, we feel like the city hasn’t come with an offer that’s respectable enough,” he said. “That’s why we are where we are right now.”
Boulware also spoke to the city being granted an injunction that limits picketing.
“Clearly the city doesn’t want to negotiate in good faith with us by doing tactics like this to make sure that they diminish any opportunity for us to have an effective strike on the side of this city,” said Boulware.
City sues to force some DC33 workers back to work
On Tuesday, the city filed three requests for preliminary injunctions in the Court of Common Pleas related to the DC33 strike, which officials say were “successfully litigated.” Law Department representative Andrew Richman confirmed that 911 call center employees will return to work after a temporary restraining order was granted in that case.
Essential Philadelphia Water Department workers who perform key functions were similarly ordered to return to work, and DC33 picketers were prohibited from blocking or obstructing access to municipal buildings.
Why is AFSCME DC33 on strike?
District Council 33 leader Greg Boulware says the city isn’t offering enough money for union workers to be able to live in Philadelphia.
“We got people that work and repair the water mains and can’t afford their water bill,” Boulware explained. “We got people that repair the runways at the airport and can’t afford a plane ticket. I don’t want to be rich. We just want a comfort inside the city that we serve daily.”
“When inflation is up and the cost of living is up 2%, 3% raises don’t change the narrative,” Boulware said.
When talks broke down late Monday night, the city was offering an 8% raise over three years. The union was seeking an 8% raise yearly.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said in a statement that the city “put its best offer on the table.” “Unfortunately,” Parker wrote, “DC 33 did not accept it.”
Parker said the city remains committed to reaching a “fair and fiscally responsible contract” with the affected municipal workers.
No curbside trash or recycling collection; city opens temporary drop-off sites, as residents voice concerns
Sanitation and trash pickup services are operating with “modified capacity,” Parker said. The city is asking residents not to place trash out curbside.
“It’s going to pile up, pile up, pile up,” said Katie Williams, whose normal trash pickup day is Tuesday. By midday, trash bags full of garbage lined her West Philly street. “I hope they can come to some kind of agreement. They deserve more money.”
Williams worries the trash will attract rodents and other animals.
“It’s going to be mice and everything in your house,” she said, “and all kinds of insects — maggots everywhere.”
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[1] Url:
https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-largest-union-first-strike-40-years/
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