Thousands of municipal workers walked off the job Tuesday — disrupting trash pickup and other city services — as AFSCME District Council 33 went on strike.
Negotiators for the union and Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration were unable to reach agreement, and DC 33 leadership had vowed to initiate a work stoppage at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
DC 33 represents more than 8,000 employees across an array of departments, from water to 911 dispatch, and the union’s last picket was a 20-day strike nearly four decades ago.
A main area of dispute is pay. Parker’s team has offered a 13% raise over her first term, which incorporates a 5% increase that was included in a one-year contract signed late last year. DC 33 has pushed for 8% annual raises for all members.
Greg Boulware, the union’s president, has said the average yearly salary for DC 33 members is $46,000.
City services halted
Curbside trash pickup will be suspended and other city services will be curtailed.
Parker said the city is setting up 63 manned drop-off locations for people to bring their trash. A list will be posted at phila.gov/sanitation. Recycling will not be accepted, and residents are only permitted to come on their designated trash pick-up days.
Beginning after 5 p.m. Tuesday, Philadelphia’s six sanitation convenience centers will also be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Carlton Williams, the city’s director of clean and green initiatives, said.
The 911 dispatch center will remain open, though delays are expected. “Just don’t hang up,” Parker said.
About 200 Philadelphia Police Department officers have been trained to take calls, Commissioner Kevin Bethel said. He said he will move sworn personnel into the center as needed.
Parker said the Philadelphia Water Department has cross-trained staff to ensure drinking and waste water functions are maintained. However, the department is anticipating longer wait times to respond to water main breaks, street cave-ins, open hydrants and other service issues, she said.
The city will only be able to keep 25 public pools operational, Parker said. Check phila.gov/departments/philadelphia-parks-recreation for a list of locations.
Recreation centers, which typically are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., will close at 5 p.m., meaning evening programming will be canceled. Parks and Recreation summer camps will not be affected, Parker said.
The strike will impact custodial, facilities and maintenance teams at Philadelphia International Airport. The airport plans to utilize employees who do not belong to DC 33 to perform those tasks, Heather Redfern, public affairs manager for the city’s aviation department, told Metro.
This is a developing story. Check MetroPhiladelphia.com for updates.
