AFSCME District Council 47 Reaches Tentative Deal with Philadelphia to Avert Strike

District Council 47 (DC 47), representing 6,000 white-collar city workers in Philadelphia, including employees of the Philadelphia Parking Authority and Philadelphia Housing Department, reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement with the city, averting a potential strike. The deal was announced early Tuesday morning after an overnight negotiation session and must still be ratified by union members. Mayor Cherelle Parker stated the agreement includes a 13.5% wage increase over four years, combining a new three-year contract with a one-year extension agreed to last fall. While the union initially sought higher annual raises and improvements to healthcare and work rules, the city's offer included annual raises of 2.5%, 2.5%, and 3% over three years plus a $1,000 bonus. The announcement followed a strike authorization vote by Local 2187, which was expected to approve a work stoppage due to dissatisfaction with the city’s offer. The union and city plan to provide more details on the agreement soon.