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PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) A tentative agreement has been reached between the City of Philadelphia and AFSCME District Council 33, effectively ending an eight-day strike by approximately 9,000 municipal workers. The walkout, which began July 1, disrupted sanitation, water services, 911 dispatch and more.
Early Wednesday morning, DC33 President Greg Boulware came out of the Community College of Philadelphia building where negotiations had gone on through the night. He said he wasn’t satisfied with the deal. He wanted his members to know that union leadership fought hard for what they believed they deserved.
“I’m not satisfied,” Boulware said. “I want our members to know that union leaders fought hard for what we believe they deserved.”
In a statement, Mayor Cherelle Parker said this was good news for union members and Philadelphia taxpayers. She added that over her four years in office, DC33 members will have received a 14% pay increase. This new contract, coupled with the one-year extension and 5% the union was awarded last year, equates to about 3% of a pay raise each year for the next three years.
Key Terms of the Agreement
- Three-year contract: The new deal will deliver a 14% pay increase over Mayor Cherelle Parker’s first term, across a three-year span, building on an earlier 5% raise awarded in 2024.
- Annual raises: Workers will receive roughly 3% annual increases, significantly less than the 5% they initially sought.
- Tentative nature: The agreement still requires a vote by union members before being finalized.
What they’re saying
- Mayor Parker called it a win for both workers and the city’s fiscal health:
- “We’re valuing our workforce and safeguarding our city’s hard-earned fiscal stability at the same time.”
- Union President Greg Boulware, though acknowledging the deal, expressed dissatisfaction:
- “I’m not happy or satisfied with the outcome.”
Strike’s toll
- Public services: Trash piled up across neighborhoods, with many residents foregoing curbside pickup and turning to temporary disposal sites—some of which overflowed due to limited staffing.
- Legal action: Court injunctions mandated that essential personnel—911 operators, water department workers, airport dispatchers—return to duty during the strike.
What happens next?
- Union ratification vote: DC 33 members will vote on the contract; if approved, returns to work begin immediately. Boulware stated workers “will be back on the job as early as Wednesday.”
- Service restoration: Full municipal services—including garbage pickup, park maintenance, and library access—should resume swiftly once workers return.
- Ongoing developments: City officials plan a press conference at City Hall later today to detail the agreement.