[VT -Philadelphia] June 30,2025 – With contract negotiations between the city and AFSCME District Council 33 (DC 33) reaching a critical impasse, Minority Leader Kendra Brooks (At‑Large) and Minority Whip Nicolas O’Rourke (At‑Large) have publicly thrown their support behind the roughly 9,000 municipal employees—including sanitation workers, 911 dispatchers, school crossing guards, and water department staff—who are preparing to strike at 12:01 a.m. on July 1 if a fair agreement isn’t reached.
In a statement released today, the two Working Families Party councilmembers said, “On the eve of a potential municipal workers’ strike, we stand with workers fighting to afford to live in the city they maintain.” They criticized the city government for prioritizing tax cuts for corporations and funding for arena projects while working-class Philadelphians continue to struggle with rising living costs. The statement described the city’s final offer as one that “increases out‑of‑pocket healthcare costs, weakens sick leave policies, and offers raises that do not keep up with inflation”—a real-term pay cut.
Brooks and O’Rourke urged Mayor Cherelle Parker to approve a contract that prioritizes working families, noting: “If we can afford tax breaks for billionaires and corporations, then we can afford a fair contract for the people who make our city run.”
Philadelphia stands at a crossroads: the fate of essential services and the livelihoods of thousands hinge on whether city officials and AFSCME DC 33 can reach an agreement before the Wednesday deadline. With Working Families councilmembers publicly urging action and support, all eyes are on City Hall to deliver a deal that balances fiscal prudence with fairness for those who keep the city operating.
