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Philadelphia City Worker Strike Enters Seventh Day Amid Bitter Negotiations

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker made a final bid to avert the city's first worker strike in 39 years by calling union president Greg Boulware to discuss her Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) initiative, but Boulware dismissed the offer, citing that the housing program was not part of the contract negotiations. The union, representing over 9,000 city employees, has been on strike for six days, with no formal negotiating session scheduled on Sunday.

Key Takeaways:

  • The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33 (AFSCME) has been on strike for six days, with the union demanding a 5% annual raise for its members in the new contract.
  • Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has offered a three-year deal with annual raises of 2.75%, 3%, and 3%, or a combined 8.75%, but union president Greg Boulware has dismissed the offer.
  • Parker has also emphasized that the combined total of 13.75% (including last year's 5% raise) would be the largest during a single term of any mayor in the past three decades.
  • The union has firmly stated that the 5% raise in the previous contract was fought for by its members and should not be used as a bargaining chip in the current negotiations.
  • Parker's Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) initiative, which involves borrowing $800 million to support new and existing housing programs, is not a part of the contract negotiations, and the union has rejected the mayor's attempt to link it to the union's demands.
  • The union has set up an online fundraising portal to support its existing strike fund and is encouraging supporters to drop off water and food at picket lines.
  • Lee Saunders, the national president of AFSCME, is set to visit Philadelphia on Monday to support the striking city employees.

Statistics:

  • Over 9,000 city employees are on strike.
  • The union is demanding a 5% annual raise for its members in the new contract.
  • Parker's proposed three-year deal would include annual raises of 2.75%, 3%, and 3%, or a combined 8.75%.
  • The total of 13.75% (including last year's 5% raise) would be the largest during a single term of any mayor in the past three decades.
  • The city's housing plan involves borrowing $800 million to support new and existing housing programs.
  • DC 33 members are setting up an online fundraising portal to support its existing strike fund.
  • Lee Saunders, the national president of AFSCME, is set to visit Philadelphia on Monday.

Sources:

  • "Philadelphia Mayor Asks Union to Consider Housing Plan as City Workers Strike Enters Sixth Day" by Sean Collins Walsh, The Philadelphia Inquirer (July 6, 2025)

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