Union contract update shared by Mayor Cherrell Parker via social media outlets.
Spillin' the City's Tea: Philadelphia Union Drama Unfolds
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Philadelphia's concrete jungle is buzzing with drama, as our city's 9,000 essential workers, from sanitation heroes to crossing guards, find themselves in a pickle with Mayor Cherelle Parker over contract negotiations.
The union representatives are cryin' foul, claimin' their members, the lowest-paid among Philadelphia’s four major municipal unions (averaging around $46,000 a year)[2], deserve better. The key issue? Wage increases, of course! The city's first pitch was a four-year contract with 2% annual raises, while the union swung for the fences with four years of 8% raises.
But the city's had some swings of their own, upping the ante with a proposed three-year contract featuring raises of 2%, 2.4%, and 3%. The union, however, is still lookin' for that homerun with four years of 5.75% increases[2]. Mayor Parker insists the city's offerin' a fair and financially sound deal, highlighting that overall wage increases, including last year's one-year 5% raise, would add up to a whopping 12% over her first term—the most substantial one-term pay boost for District Council 33 members in years[1][3].
Don't expect these workers to just roll over, mate! If no agreement's reached, they're ready to go on strike as early as Tuesday, potentially disruptin' critical city services like trash collection, water department operations, police dispatch, street maintenance, and airport functions[3]. Fingers crossed for a resolution! 🤞
The last time we had a strike like this? Well, that'd be in the '80s when gigantic trash mountains took over our streets[4]. Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself during these Welcome America celebrations, including the July 4 concert and fireworks on the Ben Franklin Parkway!
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References:
- https://whyy.org/news/philadelphia-mayor-cherelle-parks-pitches-fair-contract-to-union-workers/
- https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/philadelphia-district-council-33-contract-negotiations-20220702.html
- https://6abc.com/philadelphia-mayor-cherelle-papers-union-contract-talks/11781484/
- https://www.jbbim.com/philly-sanitation-strike-gave-rise-to-trash-mountains-and-smoky-columbus-day/
In light of the ongoing discussions, it's important to spotlight the city's ongoing political struggle, as seen in the labor negotiations between the Philadelphia Union of essential workers and Mayor Cherelle Parker. This forms part of the general news currently unfolding in Philadelphia.
The strikes potentially approaching, including disruptions in critical city services, also fall under the category of general news along with the negotiations and financial disagreements between the city and the union.
