Huge garbage piles next to the dumpster. (Credit: IStock by Getty Images)
Today marks day seven of the District Council 33 strike. Over the past week, the city union workers have stopped essential work in city systems, including trash collection, 911 dispatchers, morgue employees, airport staff, water sanitation, and crossing guards.
Since July 1st, some of these union workers have been ordered to return to work due to safety concerns, such as the water sanitation workers, 911 dispatchers, and morgue employees. Although those departments are still not fully staffed.
Mayor Cherelle Parker’s last publicly known attempt at a contract agreement was a three-year deal with annual raises of 2.75%, 3%, and 3%, or a combined 8.75%. This number has been considered unacceptable by the Union.
The last meeting between the city and the union was on Saturday. District Council 33 President Greg Boulware explained that they made compromises to their proposal to the city, but those compromises have not been disclosed.
The next meeting between the union and the city is set to take place on Tuesday.
Within the first 24 hours of the District Council 33 strike, there were reports of massive trash pile-ups on the city streets. Seven days later, those piles have only grown.
Locals have taken to social media to show their concern about the rapid growth of the trash piles.
Meanwhile, in the Philadelphia summer heat… sanitation union is on strike - trash, rats and maggots as far as the eye can see.
pic.twitter.com/M2vG51xJjJ
— TimOnPoint (@TimOnPoint) July 5, 2025
The trash 🗑️ situation in Philadelphia is going to get much worse if they don’t find a solution. Imagine the smell, the flies, and the rats. It’s going to seem like people are in NYC. pic.twitter.com/suFSA51ZAP
Reports from all over the city have begun to claim the unbearable stench coming from the massive pile-ups.
Philadelphia city workers strike continues and things are really getting ridiculous with the garbage piling up.
Homeless are going through the mountains of bags, opening them, and spreading it out everywhere.
The smell is unbearable.
Mayor Cherelle Parker has failed Philly. pic.twitter.com/0VMHiPORCR
PHILADELPHIA - July 7, the strike continues
A resident donned a gas mask to drop off a bag of trash at Richmond and Indiana Ave. in Philadelphia during day 3 of a municipal workers strike July 3, 2025.
(Photo: Kimberly Paynter/WHYY) pic.twitter.com/pjVDMVrdpg
On July 3rd, LL Cool J announced that he will be standing in solidarity with the union workers and not take the stage for the Wawa Welcome American Festival for the 4th of July celebration. On the day of the festival, headliner Jazmine Sullivan announced that she would not be taking the stage as well.
“There’s absolutely no way that I could perform, cross a picket line, and pick up money when I know that people are out there fighting for a living wage,” LL Cool J stated in a video that he posted to X.
Dear Philly…. pic.twitter.com/pnggUfUngh
On July 6, Philadelphia Firefighters were called to two separate dumpster fires. Both dumpsters are in place as temporary trash sites in the city.
The first fire was at 3 a.m. on Sunday at the 5000 block of Wyalusing Avenue in West Philadelphia, and the second fire was around two hours later at Clarissa Street and Wayne Avenue in Wayne Junction.
The cause of both fires is still under investigation.
