What we know — and don’t — about the end of the DC 33 strike and trash collection

The city worker strike in Philadelphia — the first major city strike since 1986 — is over and the union employees are returning to work.

That’s about 9,000 trash collectors, 911 dispatchers, street pavers, library employees, and more resuming operations on Wednesday. So, does that mean you can return your library books? Or, perhaps the most pressing question being asked in Philly today: When will trash be picked up again?

Here’s what we know — and don’t know — so far.

In total, the strike lasted eight days and four hours before Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Greg Boulware, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33, reached a deal for a new contract at about 4 a.m. Wednesday.

The last time this happened, in 1986, the strike lasted 20 days. It resulted in roughly 45,000 tons of “stinking, maggot-laced garbage” sitting at neighborhood disposal sites, the Daily News and the New York Times reported nearly 40 years ago.

All union members are returning to work “immediately,” city officials said in a statement Wednesday morning.

The new three-year contract will include 3% annual raises, which comes close to Parker’s demands throughout negotiations and falls short of the union’s goal of 5%. The contract also adds a fifth step to the union pay scale, which will likely boost wages by about 2% for veteran union members. Parker also announced a $1,500 bonus for employees.

The union wanted to see an increased city contribution to workers’ healthcare benefits, from $1,500 to $1,700. The administration aimed for a major reform that would nix the flat fees into the funds and have the city pay for the cost of claims instead. The final deal left the city’s contribution unchanged at $1,500.

The union also asked for a softened residency policy, which required most city employees to live within Philadelphia city limits. The final deal didn’t budge on the residency requirement.

Employees are returning to work on Wednesday, and regular trash collection will resume on Monday, Parker said.

Philly pools and park maintenance were impacted by the workers’ strike. About 60 city pools were expected to be open this summer, but that number was cut in half with only about 30 operating during the work stoppage.

Pools currently open are listed on the city’s website.

Philadelphians can expect to see pools drained during the strike refilled by Monday, according to a statement from Parker’s office.

More than half of Free Library branches reopened Wednesday, but some are operating with special hours. Due library materials’ return dates have been extended to July 15. Hours and openings vary by location.

On Wednesday, Parker said residents could continue to take their trash to one of the six permanent sanitation centers located throughout the city. But the dozens of temporary sites were being decommissioned.

DC 33 Strike Ends

The AFSCME DC 33 municipal workers strike has ended after eight days following a contract agreement with city officials. Take a look at some of The Inquirer’s coverage.

• After eight days on strike, DC 33 members will vote on a new contract with the city next week
• Here’s what’s in DC 33’s tentative new contract, according to the union
• When will Philly trash pickup resume and other strike questions, answered
• How much trash piled up in Philly during the DC 33 strike?
• Private trash collection limited pileups in some neighborhoods during the strike
• Piles of trash, pickets, and public addresses: Scenes from the DC 33 strike
• DC 33 made concessions in 1992. Decades of resentment since led to Philadelphia’s current city worker strike.