Philadelphia’s municipal workers are back on the job after a tentative agreement was reached early Wednesday, July 9th, between the city and the Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 33, ending a strike that began July 1st.
The new three-year deal includes a 3% pay raise each year, totaling 9% over the contract’s term, in addition to a 5% increase from a one-year extension agreed upon last fall. In total, workers will see a 14% wage increase during Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration.
Announcing the deal on social media, Parker described it as a “significant investment” in the city’s workforce and reaffirmed her support for organized labor. The contract still requires union ratification.
District Council 33 represents roughly 9,000 city employees across key departments, including sanitation, emergency dispatch, and public works. Their strike disrupted basic services, most visibly in the halted trash collection, which left garbage piling up in the streets and at temporary drop-off sites.
Curbside trash pickup is set to resume Monday. Until then, residents are urged to use one of the city’s six sanitation centers or store their waste. Dumpsters at temporary sites will be removed and cleaned, according to Carlton Williams, who oversees Clean and Green Initiatives.
The strike brought attention to ongoing strains between labor demands and city budget constraints, while underscoring the critical role frontline workers play in keeping Philadelphia running.
