Philadelphia’s AFSCME District Council 33 Union of 9,000 City Workers Strikes Over Contract Dispute Despite 12% Raise Offer; Judge Orders Some Back

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 contract negotiations with Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration failed. The strike is the first major city worker strike in Philadelphia since 1986 and has led to the suspension of trash and recycling collection, closure of many city pools, and disruptions to 911 call services. The union sought better wages, job security, and improved health benefits, with workers earning an average of $46,000 annually, while Mayor Parker proposed a pay raise of more than 12% in one term, the largest offer to the union in over 30 years. Despite ongoing negotiations and multiple attempts to reach an agreement, no deal was finalized by the strike deadline.

The city has established 63 temporary trash drop-off sites to manage accumulating waste, but trash has piled up in various neighborhoods, raising public concern. A Philadelphia judge has ordered some 911 dispatchers and essential water department employees to return to work to maintain emergency services, and also mandated medical examiner's office employees to resume duties due to health and safety risks from unprocessed bodies. The strike has drawn national attention and union solidarity, with continued negotiations scheduled as the strike extends into its fifth day, with no resolution yet. Mayor Parker has publicly stated the city’s readiness to resume talks but noted the union's refusal to continue negotiations at certain points. The strike's impact on city services remains significant, with residents experiencing disruptions ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend.