Trash pickup returns, tensions cool, and a 3-year raise is on the table. After a 12-hour marathon negotiation session on Tuesday, July 9, the city of Philadelphia and District Council 33 –the union representing 9,000 blue-collar workers– have reached a tentative contract agreement, officially ending the citywide strike.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker took to social media early Wednesday morning with a clear message: “The work stoppage involving District Council 33 and the City of Philadelphia is OVER.”
The strike, which began July 1, left trash piling up and Fourth of July festivities scaled down. Specifically, headliners LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan dropped out in solidarity.
City workers who handle everything from trash pickup to building maintenance will return to work immediately, pending a union ramification vote.
While the deal may not have reached the ambitious 32% pay increase the union originally fought for, it still delivers some key gains.
The tentative deal includes the following:
- 📈 3% raise in each of the three years covered in the new contract
- 💵 $1,500 signing bonus for workers
- 🔄 With last year’s 5% raise factored in, workers will receive over 14% in raises during Mayor Parker’s four-year term
Despite the gap between the union’s demands and the final numbers, District Council 33 President Greg Boulware emphasized unity: “We did the best we can with the circumstances we had in front of us.” That includes the reality that many workers were expecting to miss a paycheck this week.
Mayor Parker called the agreement “historic” and used the moment to reflect on her broader goals for the city: “I understand when I ran for mayor I needed a team around me and I needed them to go to war with the status quo.”
Chief Deputy Mayor Sincere Harris echoed a sentiment many Philadelphians likely share: “There is no winning when there is a strike.”
For now, the streets will be cleaned, the trucks will roll again. And the city takes a deep breath –ready to move forward.
When will trash pickup resume?
Important to note, regular trash pickup will start back on Monday.
In the meantime, residents are being asked to either hang onto their trash. Or, residents can bring it to one of the city’s six sanitation centers. The temporary drop-off spots that were set up during the strike are now closed.
Let’s get Philly back to being a cleaner, greener city.