Philadelphia trash workers reach union deal after days without pickup
The union representing Philadelphia trash workers,part of the American Federation of State,County,and Municipal Employees District Council 33 (about 9,000 members),reached a tentative deal to end a strike that began on July 1,2025. The strike caused significant trash pileup across the city, as workers protested after failing to agree with the city on a new contract. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker announced the agreement, which includes a 14% pay increase over four years, pending union membership ratification. This strike, the first since 1986, focused mainly on wage increases and improved healthcare and pension benefits, with workers seeking a 32% total raise but settling for less. The strike also involved other city workers covered by the union, such as 911 dispatchers and water department staff. The city emphasized valuing its workforce while maintaining fiscal stability. Negotiations lasted over 12 hours before reaching the preliminary agreement.
Philadelphia trash workers reach union deal after days without pickup
The union representing Philadelphia trash workers reached a deal to halt a strike that caused trash to pile up across the city.
Workers from the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees District Council 33 in Philadelphia, about 9,000 strong, began their strike on July 1 after failing to reach an agreement with the city. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker announced an end to the strike on Wednesday, saying the city reached a tentative agreement with the union.
“We have reached a tentative agreement with District Council 33, which must be ratified by its membership on a new three-year contract that, coupled with the one-year contract extension we agreed to last fall, will increase DC 33 members’ pay by 14 percent over my four years in office,” Parker said in a statement posted on X.
The mayor said further details would be divulged during a Thursday meeting at Philadelphia City Hall.
“We’re valuing our workforce and we’re safeguarding our city’s hard-earned fiscal stability at the same time,” she added.
The union confirmed the end to the strike Wednesday morning.
“The strike is over! Details forthcoming,” the union posted on Facebook.
The week-and-a-half strike wrought havoc in the city, causing trash to pile up in overflowing designated drop-off areas, of which there were about 60.
The strike was the union’s first in Philadelphia since 1986, the Philadelphia Tribune reported.
The primary point of contention for the AFSCME was pay — the average salary for a Philadelphia sanitation worker is the lowest of any major city in the country at between $39,000 and $42,000 annually. The union sought a 5% wage increase and refused a counteroffer of a 2.75% increase this year and 3% for subsequent years.
The union also sought better healthcare and pension benefits.
Overall, the union was seeking a 32% total pay increase over Parker’s four-year term. The deal struck on Wednesday will total a 14% increase over her term.
Negotiations began on Tuesday afternoon, with the preliminary deal being struck in the early morning hours of Wednesday. In total, the negotiation session lasted over 12 hours.
TRASH PILES OVERFLOW IN PHILADELPHIA AS CITY WORK STOPPAGE ENTERS SECOND WEEK
“There’s a lot of factors involved in what was going on, and we ultimately did what we thought was in the best interest of all of our membership,” DC33 President Greg Boulware said, according to WHYY.
Trash workers were not the only workers covered by the AFSCME who took part in the strike — 911 dispatchers, water department workers, and others are covered by the union.
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