Philadelphia's AFSCME District Council 33 Union of 9,000 City Workers Strikes Over Pay; Trash, 911 Services Disrupted

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 on July 1, 2025, after contract negotiations with Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration failed. The union sought better wages, job security, and improved health benefits, with members earning an average of $46,000 annually. Mayor Parker had proposed a pay raise exceeding 12% over one term, the largest offer to the union in over 30 years, but talks ended without agreement despite extended negotiations. The strike, the first major city worker strike in Philadelphia since 1986, has disrupted essential services such as trash collection, public pool maintenance, and 911 emergency call handling.

In response, the city established 63 temporary trash drop-off sites to manage accumulating waste, which has begun piling up across neighborhoods. A Philadelphia judge issued orders requiring over 200 911 dispatchers and essential water department employees to return to work temporarily, citing public safety concerns. Additionally, 31 union members at the Medical Examiner’s Office were ordered back to work due to health and safety risks from unprocessed bodies. Negotiations have continued into the strike's fifth day, with both sides agreeing to resume talks in hopes of reaching a resolution before the Fourth of July weekend. Meanwhile, the strike has drawn attention to disparities between the union members' average salaries and Mayor Parker's reported $269,708 salary. The ongoing labor action has led to widespread public impact and heightened tensions, with union supporters actively rallying and some city workers filling service gaps amid the work stoppage.