PHILADELPHIA — Nearly 10,000 city workers in Philadelphia who collect trash, answer 911 calls, maintain city pools and perform other jobs went on strike Tuesday after contract negotiations broke down.<\/p>\n
District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees announced the strike on its Facebook page early Tuesday, saying \u201cHOLD THE LINES.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Cherelle Parker<\/a> said the city would suspend residential trash collection, close some city pools and shorten recreation center hours, but vowed to keep the city running. Police and firefighters are not on strike.<\/p>\n Parker, a pro-labor Democrat, promised that Fourth of July celebrations in the nation\u2019s birthplace<\/a> would go on as usual. <\/p>\n \u201cKeep your holiday plans. Don\u2019t leave the city,” she said at a Monday afternoon news conference that followed hours of last-minute negotiations.<\/p>\n City officials urged residents to be patient and not hang up should they need to call either 911 or the city\u2019s non-emergency helpline. They said they would open drop-off sites for residential trash.<\/p>\n Parker said she had offered raises that amount to 13% over her four-year term and added a fifth step to the pay scale to align with other unionized workers. District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is the largest of four unions representing city workers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe it\u2019s a fair offer and still fiscally responsible for the people of this city,\u201d said Parker, who took office last year. <\/p>\n