When the sun peeked through the limestone columns of City Hall on Tuesday morning, a wave of relief washed over AFSCME District Council 47 members. The City of Philadelphia announced in a Facebook post that it had reached a tentative agreement with the white-collar union representing some 6,000 municipal employees, avoiding yet another strike that threatened services from libraries to community health clinics.
Under the new deal, which builds on a one-year extension agreed to last fall, union members will see their wages increase by a total of 13.5% over the next four years—13.5% when including the extension—spread across a fresh three-year contract plus the existing one-year term. Mayor Cherelle Parker framed the agreement as a win for both workers and taxpayers, writing, “I have good news to share for the dedicated members of AFSCME District Council 47, and every taxpaying resident and business in Philadelphia”.…