Philadelphia City Worker Strike Enters Second Week as Talks Stall and National Support Arrives
Philadelphia City Worker Strike Enters Second Week as Talks Stall and National Support Arrives
The city of Philadelphia’s first major municipal worker strike in 39 years entered its seventh day on Monday, July 7, with no immediate end in sight as negotiations between Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration and District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) remain stalled. Adding to the escalating standoff, Lee Saunders, the national president of AFSCME, is scheduled to arrive in Philadelphia today to join the striking workers.
The walkout by more than 9,000 city employees, which began on July 1, stems primarily from a dispute over wage increases. Union President Greg Boulware is demanding 5% annual raises for his members, a figure Mayor Parker has resisted. Parker’s latest public offer includes annual raises of 2.75%, 3%, and 3% over three years, totaling 8.75%. She has emphasized this by combining it with a 5% raise from a one-year deal in 2024, presenting a “historic” 13.75% increase over her term.
However, Boulware has dismissed the mayor’s framing of last year’s raise as a separate, hard-won victory, stating, “That 5% is now done and over with. It’s a wrap.” He also strongly rejects Parker’s attempt to link her administration’s new Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) initiative to the current contract talks, asserting that housing programs are not, and will not be, part of collective bargaining agreements.
With no formal negotiating sessions held since Sunday, the union appears to be bracing for a prolonged work stoppage. District Council 33 has publicly encouraged supporters to provide food and water to picket lines and is establishing an online fundraising portal to bolster its strike fund. Beyond wages, the city’s residency rule, which the union seeks to loosen for its members after 10 years of service, also remains a contentious point.
As the strike continues to disrupt city services, the arrival of AFSCME’s national leader underscores the growing pressure on both sides to find a resolution to this impactful labor dispute.
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