PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Thousands of AFSCME District Council 33 members, Philadelphia’s largest blue collar union, are now on strike.
MORE | Philadelphia’s largest city workers union goes on strike | Outline of contingency plan
DC 33 represents about 9,000 city workers. The union is asking for an 8% increase for each year of a four-year deal. The City is offering 7% over three years, which averages out to just over 2% per year.
Union members provide services that include everything from 911 dispatch, street repairs, trash pick up, airport services and more.
The strike means residential trash and recycling pickup stops immediately Tuesday. Residents are being asked not put their trash outside for collection.
Mayor Cherelle Parker said Monday that the city’s Department of Sanitation would operate on a modified schedule
The city is establishing 63 temporary drop-off locations around the city where residents can bring their trash.
Residents are asked to only bring trash on what would be their normal trash pickup days in order to keep the facilities from becoming overwhelmed.
Parker said officials will be monitoring the sites to ensure there are enough dumpsters at each site.
A map of locations will be available here in the event of a strike.
Get the latest on the negotiations and learn more about the contingency plans, here.
The City has issued the following guidelines for residents:
Trash
The following locations will be available for residents to drop off trash and recycling for disposal:
- Six Sanitation drop-off centers (open 6 a.m. through 10 p.m.) Sunday through Saturday.
- Over 60 temporary drop-off locations sites (available 6 a.m. through 10 p.m.) Monday through Saturday.
- Drop-off locations will be available for usage beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, and for the remainder of the week they will be open at 6 a.m.
- Drop-off locations will not be available on Friday, July 4 due to the holiday. Sanitation Convenience Centers will also be closed.
- Residents are asked to bring their materials to drop-off sites on their normal trash day.
- The City will continue to monitor these locations. If the work stoppage lingers and reaches capacity, the City will be expanding to additional locations.
- The City will monitor the sites to ensure there are enough dumpsters at each site.
- The City will have personnel on hand to assist with trash collection at designated locations.
- Sanitation regulations remain:
- Bagged trash only (up to eight bags of trash).
Recycling
- Recyclable materials will only be accepted at the six Sanitation Convenience Centers.
- Please hold recycling materials as long as possible as trash is the priority due to health and safety concerns.
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