Philadelphia city workers are expressing their outrage following the abrupt termination of an eight-day strike by AFSCME District Council 33.
The announcement of a tentative agreement late at night has left many feeling that their core demands have been ignored, leading to accusations of sabotage within the union bureaucracy.
Under the new contract, workers will see a mere 9 percent wage increase over three years, a figure only marginally higher than an initial offer from the city that had previously provoked widespread discontent among workers.
Comments on social media reflect the disillusionment felt by many. One worker lamented, “We did all this for an extra 37 dollars a check! This union is a joke! We missed damn near 2 weeks of pay for absolutely nothing!”
In response to the union’s actions, a group of workers established the Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee, calling for members to reject the agreed-upon contract. The committee stated that the strike must be renewed and expanded to include transit workers, white-collar employees, and other sectors of the working class in Philadelphia.
They emphasized that the union leadership often discourages further action, claiming that the city is unyielding and that acceptance of the deal is necessary. The committee refutes these claims, asserting that the previous leadership has repeatedly led workers into dead ends without tangible results.
Support for extending the protest remains strong among workers. One commenter suggested, “Maybe all minimum wage workers should go on strike so we can get more money,” highlighting the potential for a citywide shutdown through collective action.
Another worker expressed eagerness to return to striking for their rights, recalling how the initial protest fostered a sense of unity among participants.
Such sentiments were echoed in comments about AFSCME DC 33’s failing communication strategies. Union president Greg Boulware offered a perplexing statement of his dissatisfaction with the outcome, which left workers confused since he had endorsed the agreement.
The strike, rather than weakening, seemed to gain momentum, but the leadership’s decision to end it appeared to be driven by fear of losing control over a potentially escalating confrontation with the Democratic Party and the political establishment.
Additional comments from workers revealed frustrations over the strike’s organization and communication, noting that vital information about the strike was often conveyed through individual contacts rather than the union directly.
Discontent also arose from inadequate support during the strike, such as the lack of meals for workers and the absence of provisions for certain demographics among the membership, notably the elderly.
The five-page tentative agreement revealed disturbing compromises, particularly regarding healthcare, with the city cutting all contributions to the Health and Welfare Fund for over a month, constituting a $13.5 million funding gap.
Future contributions are only promised under specific conditions as determined by a third-party consultant, signaling possible further cuts.
The new contract’s provisions include vague language on collaboration between the union and the city, raising concerns that it may facilitate greater reductions in healthcare benefits.
Workers have signaled their readiness to take further action rather than accept the deal concluded behind closed doors.
The Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee asserts the necessity of a leadership change, arguing that the future of the workers’ movements lies not in signed agreements but in the action of the workers themselves.
They declare that moving forward requires a renewed offensive and solidarity among all workers in Philadelphia and beyond.
image source from：wsws
