Philadelphia’s 9,000-Worker AFSCME District Council 33 Begins Strike Over Failed Contract Talks, Rejecting 12% Pay Raise Offer

Philadelphia's largest municipal workers union, AFSCME District Council 33, representing approximately 9,000 blue-collar city employees including sanitation workers, 911 dispatchers, and water department staff, initiated a strike at midnight on July 1, 2025, after nearly 12 hours of negotiations with the city failed to produce a contract agreement. The strike marks the first major city worker strike in Philadelphia in nearly 40 years. Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration had proposed a wage increase of more than 12% over one term, the largest offer to the union in over three decades, but the union rejected it, citing demands for better wages, job security, and improved health benefits. The strike has led to suspension of curbside trash and recycling collection, closure of many city pools, and disruptions to 911 call services, although emergency services remain operational.

The city established 63 temporary trash drop-off sites to manage accumulating waste, but trash has piled up in various neighborhoods, causing growing public concern. In response to the strike, a Philadelphia judge ordered more than 200 911 dispatchers and some essential water department and medical examiner office employees to return to work to mitigate public safety risks. Negotiations resumed multiple times during the strike, including overnight sessions and meetings on July 2, 3, 5, and 6, but no deal had been reached by the sixth day of the strike. Mayor Parker emphasized the city's readiness to return to the negotiating table but also stated she was not prepared to concede to all union demands. The strike has drawn widespread attention, with union supporters rallying and some public events, such as the Wawa Welcome America concert, seeing performer cancellations in solidarity with the workers. The average salary for AFSCME District Council 33 members is around $46,000, contrasted with Mayor Parker's reported salary of $269,708. The strike continues to impact essential city operations and is ongoing as of early July 2025, with efforts to reach a resolution expected to continue.