The City of Philadelphia and District Council 33 have announced a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract, effectively ending a significant strike that disrupted sanitation services and other essential municipal functions. This resolution comes after weeks of negotiations between the city officials and the union, which represents over 9,000 workers across critical sectors, including sanitation, water, and 911 dispatch.
Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed the end of the strike in a statement released early Wednesday, declaring, “The work stoppage involving the District Council 33 and the City of Philadelphia is OVER.” The new agreement promises a 14% pay increase for union members across the four years of Parker’s administration, complementing a previously negotiated one-year contract extension secured last fall.
The strike, which began on June 1 amid failed contract negotiations, resulted in significant challenges for Philadelphia residents, including trash piling up on the streets and service interruptions affecting water management and recreational facilities. Mayor Parker had previously initiated a contingency plan that required residents to transport their trash to designated locations due to the halt in sanitation services. Despite court interventions aimed at ending the strike, the union members remained steadfast on the picket lines until this agreement was reached.
The Mayor highlighted the significance of this wage increase, noting that the 12% offer made earlier was among the largest raises given by a Philadelphia mayor in the first term over the last three decades. “For an average District Council 33 worker, that means an average annual pay increase of $2,383,” Parker explained. Additionally, she noted that the contract’s first-year 5% wage increase was the largest the union had experienced in three decades.
As the city prepares to share more details about the agreement, both Mayor Parker and District Council 33 President Greg Boulware expressed optimism about the agreement’s potential to improve workers’ conditions and maintain the city’s fiscal stability.
This development signifies a crucial step forward, not just in terms of labor relations within Philadelphia, but also as a demonstration of how negotiations can ultimately lead to positive outcomes for workers and the community. The collaboration that ended the strike serves as a reminder of the importance of dialogue and resolution in labor disputes, providing hope for similar outcomes in future negotiations elsewhere.