A crossing guard holding up traffic. (Credit: IStock by Getty Images)
Earlier today, the City of Philadelphia’s largest city workers' union went on strike for the first time in nearly 40 years.
The AFSCME District Council 33 has received an outpouring of support from the community in hopes of reaching a negotiated contract deal that better supports the union workers.
AFSCME District Council 33 represents employees of over 9,000 workers who keep essential everyday operations running in the city, including trash pick-up, street cleaning, sanitation work, and crossing guards.
The School District of Philadelphia released a statement that “crossing guards are working near 63 schools where summer programming is underway, but they will not be on the job throughout a strike.”
With this comes safety concerns for the students attending summer programming at Philadelphia schools.
President of IBEW Local 614, Larry Anastasi, spoke out for District Council 33 about their work stoppage.
“This city has money for everything but the workers who keep it running, day in and day out,” Anastasi said in a statement. “Politicians get their pet projects, developers get their deals, but the people who hold this city together are told to wait. Police dispatchers, street crews, sanitation workers, water treatment operators – they’re out there in the blazing heat and the freezing cold, through storms, making sure we have the essential services we depend on.”
Anastasi did not hesitate to express overwhelming support for the AFSCME District Council 33.
“IBEW Local 614 stands shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in AFSCME District Council 33 in their fight for fair wages,” he explained. “We know what it’s like to work hard to keep this city moving, and we’ve got your back.”
