Philadelphia Public Employees Strike Ends with New Agreement

Philadelphia’s largest public sector union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33, has come to a tentative agreement with Mayor Cherelle Parker, thereby ending an eight-day strike that disrupted trash collection and city services. The union, which represents approximately 9,000 municipal workers including 1,000 sanitation employees, announced the end of the strike via their Facebook page early Wednesday morning.

This work stoppage, which began on July 1, had significant repercussions on municipal operations, necessitating the closure of libraries and prompting delays in city repairs. The most glaring outcome was the accumulation of trash across Philadelphia’s streets, which raised health and cleanliness concerns. To manage the rubbish, the city employed private contractors and nonunion workers—a decision met with criticism regarding its efficiency.

The negotiated contract entails a proposed 14 percent wage increase for union members over the next four years of Parker's administration. However, the deal is still subject to approval by the union's membership. Previous to the strike, members had been living under a one-year contract extension that had expired at the beginning of July, while they sought a more stable multiyear agreement. This strike marked the first significant work stoppage for the union in nearly four decades.

Claire Moses is a journalist based in London, covering significant and developing news stories.