PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — By almost a 7-1 margin, members of AFSCME District Council 33, the city’s blue collar workers union, have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike.
About 87% of the 3,400 members who cast ballots over the last week voted to authorize a strike. Union members took an unofficial voice vote outside of City Hall two weeks ago.
District Council 33, which represents over 9,000 water, sanitation and prisons department workers, among others, has been working without a new contract since the previous deal expired at the end of June. DC33 president Greg Boulware says the union wants a long-term deal, but the city has offered only a one-year contract.
"We ideally would like to have a four-year deal, right? That’s what I feel the membership has given me the mission to accomplish," Boulware said.
The vote does not mean DC33 is on strike, but it sets union leaders up to call a strike against the city at any time if the union and the city are unable to come to an agreement on a new contract.
The city of Philadelphia reached an agreement in September with DC47, its white-collar workers union, on a one-year contract extension, leaving only DC33 members to continue working without a contract.
SEPTA running as usual with no contract deal
Boulware says he'll give the city every opportunity before calling for a strike, but he won't wait too much longer. He says DC33 is considering walking off the job at the same time as SEPTA’s Transport Workers Union Local 234, which has also authorized a strike.
"If it unfortunately has to come to a strike situation, then we have been in conversation with them about potentially doing something jointly," Boulware said.
The latest round of talks between the transit agency and the union wrapped for the day on Thursday without a deal.
The union is demanding wage increases and more safety protection for workers. SEPTA has said it would be difficult to provide raises without a transit funding plan from the state.
They will pick up again on Friday. The contract expired on Nov. 7, but SEPTA service will keep running as usual, for now.