PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A significant development occurred in Philadelphia as a union representing nearly 10,000 city workers reached a tentative agreement with the city to conclude a more than weeklong strike. The strike, which began on July 1, 2025, disrupted essential services such as residential curbside trash pickup and led to the closures of various public facilities, including libraries.
The strikers are members of District Council 33, part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which is the largest of four major unions representing municipal workers in Philadelphia. The union members, including 911 dispatchers, trash collectors, and water department employees, had walked off the job in pursuit of improved pay and benefits after negotiations for a new contract broke down.
The agreement was revealed on what would have been the strike's ninth day. During the strike, the city had set up approximately 60 designated drop-off centers for residents to dispose of their trash. However, many of these centers became overwhelmed, leading to a significant accumulation of waste in various areas of the city. Striking workers were present at these sites, actively encouraging residents not to cross the picket line to deliver their trash.
In addition to disrupting trash pickup, the strike impacted other city services. Many libraries in Philadelphia were closed, as support staff and security personnel participated in the labor action, effectively halting operations at these public facilities. The absence of these workers highlighted the extent to which the strike affected day-to-day life for Philadelphia residents.
As the city and the union moved towards resolving the conflict, both sides aimed to address the underlying issues of wages and benefits that spurred the walkout. The resolution of the strike not only alleviated immediate concerns about trash collection and service closures but also paved the way for future negotiations regarding fair compensation for the essential work carried out by these city employees.
