Negotiations between Philly leaders, striking blue collar union end without deal
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Negotiations between the City of Philadelphia and members of the blue-collar workers' union, AFSCME District Council 33, that began Wednesday have ended without a deal.
The talks started Wednesday evening but broke apart overnight. It is unclear whether any new talks will be held on Thursday.
Wednesday's negotiations were the first sign of movement since talks broke down just before 12 a.m. Tuesday, when members of DC33 went on strike.
The impact of the strike is being felt around the city. Sanitation workers are part of the strike, and crews are trying to keep up with trash piling up in parts of the city.
"This is a nightmare... I'm 55 years old, I have never seen nothing like this. They say this happened back in '83. Don't remember. Don't want to remember," said Renee Dennis of West Philadelphia.
Neighbors tell Action News they've witnessed contractors and cars with out-of-state tags dumping trash. A U-Haul lugging a trailer of trash was also seen pulling up and adding to the growing pile.
City employees who are not part of the DC 33 union are now tasked with cleaning up mounds of trash at dump sites across Philadelphia.
RELATED: Philadelphia judge orders some DC 33 members back to work amid strike
Mayor Cherelle Parker is asking residents to drop off trash at temporary dump sites on their normal trash day.
The mayor's office is trying to keep up by providing modified services after trash collectors walked off the job.
RELATED: Trash pickup halted in Philadelphia during blue-collar union workers' strike. Here's what to know
"I hope they settle the union discussions quickly," said neighbor Theos McKinney.
Action News has learned that some of the city employees who are still working are trainees who are not yet part of the union. Others work for the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP), where crews typically assist with neighborhood cleanup across the city.
Some of them were back to work early Wednesday after working 16 hours Tuesday, clearing out what is becoming a constant cycle of trash.
"There's a gentleman that arrived while they were loading and dropped off his trash, so I feel like people are going to attempt to put it up there, although it's quite high," said neighbor Eva Alminana. "I don't know how the average person gets their trash into that big dumpster."
RELATED: Coverage of the ongoing work stoppage at 6abc.action.news/CityStrike
The Action Cam was there as crews moved the full dumpster off Catharine Street to make way for another to replace it.
The dumpster a couple of miles away by Marconi Plaza also overflowed after one day.
"I saw there were some rats scurrying over here," said Giuseppe Mollo of South Philadelphia. "I don't know how long this can last."
DC 33, Philadelphia's largest workers' union, is made up of roughly 9,000 workers who provide services like street repair and trash pickup. Their membership also includes some airport workers, members of the Water Dept. and 911 dispatchers.
On Tuesday, a judge ruled that many water employees and 911 dispatchers had to go back to work.
In the filing, Common Pleas Court Judge Sierra Thomas-Street ordered 237 of the 325 dispatchers back to work, saying their absence creates a "clear and present danger to threat to health, safety or welfare of the public."
MORE | Philly officials issue warning as strike tensions escalate: 'This is not legal activity'
This order does not prevent workers from participating in the strike during off-duty hours.
Thomas-Street also required a limited number of essential Philadelphia Water Department workers to return. Lawyers said these employees are essential to fulfill the city's statutory mandate to provide fresh, clean drinking water supply to the city.
Workers may still participate in the strike while they're not on the clock.
DC 33 is asking for an 8% wage increase per year. The City is offering 7% over 3 years, which averages out to be just over 2% a year.
Mayor Parker says the contract is the most offered by any mayor.
"I'm going to remind you about the offer that the city of Philadelphia put on the table. The hard-working members of District Council 33 deserved an historic offer, and that is what we did," said Parker as the strike stretched into a second day.
City Solicitor Renee Garcia said some union members have jammed locks, slashed tires, and prevented employees from entering buildings.
"They were harassing our employees, harassing our residents, blocking access to health centers, to libraries, to recreation centers, to sanitation centers across the city, to our water facilities," said Garcia during a news conference on Wednesday.
Philadelphia police announced the arrest of 59-year-old Carnell Wilder, who allegedly approached a PGW worker who was operating a digger loader and asked, "Why aren't you striking?"
He then proceeded to stab the rear left tire of the loader with a knife, causing it to deflate, according to police.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel warned that action would be taken against anyone engaging in any actions of vandalism.
