District Council 33 logo.
As of this morning, District Council 33 and the city of Philadelphia have struck a new contract agreement ending the historic strike on its 9th day.
Over the past nine days, the city of Philadelphia has felt the effects of the work stoppage by DC 33. The union represents those in charge of trash pick-ups, sanitation departments, 911 dispatchers, and more.
The work stoppage caused massive trash pile-ups throughout the city in the various trash drop-off sites set up by Mayor Parker. Those piles quickly became a health and safety concern for those who lived close by.
Mayor Parker announced this morning that the strike has officially ended.
— Mayor Cherelle L. Parker (@PhillyMayor) July 9, 2025
"This is a very significant investment in our employees, while at the same time ensuring that we, as a city, are living within our means," Mayor Cherelle Parker told reporters.
The tentative contract agreement is a 3-year contract that will increase the pay of DC 33 members by 14% over Mayor Parker's next 4 years in office. The agreement will also include a one-year extension of the contract that the union and city agreed to last fall. DC 33 workers will also receive a $1,500 signing bonus.
The president of District Council 33, Greg Boulware, left the negotiation on Wednesday morning seemingly dissatisfied, with the negotiated contract well below the 32% total pay increase that he was fighting for.
"A deal has been reached, unfortunately," Boulware told reporters. "The City of Philadelphia has to do better by its members, has to put the members and the workers who handle all the essential functions as a priority in the city. I don't feel like that's been done."
"Your union stood up and fought for you, and we did the best we could with the circumstances we had in front of us," Boulware explained.
As of the latest reports, union officials have told members to return to work while DC 33 votes to ratify the tentative agreement. They are expected to be back at work on Thursday.
