2025 District Council 33 strike

On June 30, 2025, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 33 (DC 33) labor union in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, declared a strike. As a result, many essential city services, such as trash collection and city pool and library branch operations, have been either lessened or ground to a halt. Residents were given the option to dispose of trash at dumpsters around city parks and recreation centers. Some employees, such as emergency 911 dispatchers, were also included but forced to return to work by injunction. ^[1]

District Council 33 had requested an 8% pay raise each year for four years, while Mayor Cherelle Parker countered with a 13% total increase over four years. ^[2] Negotiations have continued into July. ^[3]

On July 9, 2025, Parker and DC 33 President Greg Boulware announced the strike was over, and the union had accepted a 3% raise deal for each year into 2027, including the 5% raise members received in 2024, for a total of 14% over four years. ^[4]

Strike pushback

DC 33 has argued that Parker gave herself a 9% pay raise upon entering office in January 2024, which Parker denies. ^[5]

The annual Fourth of July Wawa Welcome America concert often features notable musical figures. For 2025, both rapper LL Cool J and R&B singer/Philadelphia native Jazmine Sullivan were slated to perform in the lineup. Both artists withdrew as a result of the strike. ^[6]

References

1. Grassi, Emily Rose; Lynch, Cherise; Chang, David; Brightman, Brendan; Mitman • •, Hayden (2025-07-02). "District Council 33 responds to injunctions forcing some members back to work". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
2. Sanders, Josh; DeMentri, Nikki (2025-07-05). "Negotiations to resume between AFSCME District Council 33, Mayor Parker's administration on Saturday - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
3. "Thousands of Philadelphia workers go on strike; Mayor Parker says deal is 'fair offer'". 6abc Philadelphia. 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
4. "Deal reached to end DC33 strike in Philadelphia; trash collection resumes Monday". 6abc Philadelphia. 2025-07-09. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
5. Walsh, Ryan Briggs | Sean (2025-07-03). "No, Mayor Parker didn't give herself 'a 9% raise' — but she did dole out big raises to aides". Inquirer.com. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
6. NBC10, David Chang (2025-07-04). "Jazmine Sullivan drops out of July 4th Philly concert amid DC 33 strike". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2025-07-05.