City of Philadelphia is preparing for potential of approximately 9,000 City employees represented by District Council 33 to go on strike June 30 at midnight<\/p>\n
PHILADELPHIA \u2014 Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Managing Director Adam Thiel, Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel and other City Officials today provided an update on the City of Philadelphia\u2019s response plans and operational readiness in light of a potential work stoppage by AFSCME District Council 33 that could happen at Midnight tonight, Monday, June 30. As negotiations between City officials and union representatives continued this evening, the Parker Administration is committed to ensuring essential services remain uninterrupted.
District Council 33 (DC33) members, which include more than 9,000 City employees, provide essential services including:<\/p>\n
The union\u2019s contract is\u00a0set to expire at midnight (12 a.m.) on June 30, 2025.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAs a city, our priority is to safeguard the well-being of our residents while also respecting the rights of our workers,\u201d said\u00a0Mayor Cherelle L. Parker<\/strong>. \u201cAs conversations between the Parker Administration and DC33 continue with a deadline of June 30, Philadelphia is fully prepared to continue operations and services if a work stoppage takes place. We are taking these precautionary measures to ensure that the people of Philadelphia continue to receive the critical services they depend on, regardless of the outcome of ongoing negotiations.\u201d \u201cWe greatly appreciate and rely on our DC33 colleagues to deliver a wide range of City services, and we remain hopeful that an equitable and fiscally responsible agreement can be reached,\u201d said\u00a0Adam K. Thiel, Managing Director, City of Philadelphia<\/strong>. \u201cAt the same time, we are extremely grateful to the rest of our City workforce that is ready, willing and able to step up and provide the full range of City services 24x7x365 to our residents, businesses, and visitors.\u00a0As we provide those services, we humbly ask for the public\u2019s patience and grace as we work through this dynamic situation together.\u201d<\/p>\n Preparedness<\/strong><\/p>\n The City is closely monitoring the situation and has assessed what the impact of a District Council 33 strike would have on City departmental operations and services. Contingency plans and recommendations for employees include:<\/p>\n Impacts to Services & Operations<\/strong><\/p>\n Emergency Services: 911 Call Centers & Dispatch\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Philadelphia\u2019s 911 call centers for emergency dispatch will remain open in the event of a work stoppage and operators will continue to take calls. \u201cDon\u2019t hang up,\u201d Mayor Parker and Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel advised today. \u201cYour calls will be answered.\u201d<\/p>\n Trash &\u00a0Recycling Collection\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Department of Sanitation would operate on in a modified capacity. There will be no residential collection of trash or recycling effective Tuesday, July 1. Residents should refrain from placing any trash or recycling out for curbside collection until further notice. The City will open 63 temporary drop-off locations around Philadelphia where residents can bring their trash in the event of any work stoppage. Residents can search for the nearest drop off location for trash\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0Please read the map instructions carefully.<\/p>\n The City has issued the following guidelines for residents:<\/p>\n Trash<\/p>\n Recycling<\/p>\n Department of Public Health\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Most Health Department services will continue to be available to City residents. However, some services at the Health Centers may be temporarily unavailable or delayed. Patients with appointments will be contacted about the status of their upcoming appointments.<\/p>\n The Health Department will strive to offer full services in the event of a strike. Depending on which staff are available on a particular day, be they contract staff, supervisory staff, or DC33 staff, services available may vary.\u202fFor example, the Health Department will strive to keep Health Centers open, but based upon available staff, some appointments may be moved to virtual, and some services may be referred out.<\/p>\n Water Department Services &\u00a0Repairs\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n PWD has prepared for this workforce reduction by cross-training staff to perform operational functions ensuring core drinking water and wastewater services.\u00a0 However, parts of our core service delivery may be impacted by reduced staffing. Some customers could experience service impacts including longer response and repair times (for example \u2013 water main breaks, street cave-ins, open hydrants, clogged inlets). During a strike and any city emergency, repairs will be prioritized according to severity of impact and available resources.<\/p>\n PWD\u2019s Customer Contact Center<\/p>\n PWD\u2019s customer contact line remains open during a strike. Call 215-685-6300 to report issues. Due to limited staffing, wait times for non-emergency calls will be longer than usual, and we thank you for your patience.\u00a0 Customers should use self-service options for bill payment and general account information. Go to\u00a0MyPhillywaterBill<\/a>\u00a0to view account information and make payments. Self-service account information and payment options are also available by calling 215-685-6300 and following the prompts in the main menu. Representatives will prioritize emergency calls and not be available for billing issues or account information. Non-emergency service inquiries should be held until we can resume full staffing.<\/p>\n
Given the possibility for a work stoppage, the City has outlined a comprehensive contingency plan for essential services which Philadelphians rely on everyday, including:<\/p>\n\n
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