Piles upon piles of garbage line the streets of Philadelphia, and as temperatures hover above 90 degrees, the stench is almost unbearable.
In the early hours of Tuesday, July 1, nearly ten thousand city workers walked off the job a few short minutes after their contract expired. Workers in sanitation, libraries, police dispatch, street maintenance, and water are all members of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33 (AFSCME DC 33), Philadelphia’s blue-collar municipal union. They are the city’s lowest-paid employees, making an average of $46,000 per year.
The union’s first strike in nearly forty years has seen the mounds of trash bags dubbed “Parker piles” after Mayor Cherelle Parker. In addition to garbage pickup, the strike has also closed libraries, pools, recreation centers, and other vital city buildings — showing the significance and value of DC 33 members and their work.
Money remains the big sticking point between the union and the Parker administration. Prior to the strike, the city’s final offer intended to give DC 33 members a three-year contract with annual raises of 2.75, 3, and 3 percent. The union, led by Greg Boulware, wanted 5 percent raises each year. To put both offers in perspective, for the average DC 33 member, the mayor’s offer would have meant a salary just over $50,140 after three years, and the union’s proposal would mean $53,250 in the same time frame. Although the two sides aren’t that far apart, they have met multiple times since the strike began and don’t appear much closer to an agreement.
The majority-black union is getting a lot of support from fellow Philadelphians, with public opinion placing the blame for the strike solely on the mayor and her administration. This came to a head on the Fourth of July, as the city hosts a huge celebration every year with a concert and giant display of fireworks. The Wawa Welcome America festivities are usually…
Auteur: Mindy Isser
