PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Parker administration and the leadership of District Council 47 (DC 47), the union representing thousands of the city's professional and administrative employees, have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, officials announced Tuesday. The deal, which averts a potential strike, includes significant wage increases for city workers over the next four years.
Key financial terms of the deal reveal a 3-year contract that includes a 1-year extension option. Over that four-year period, which aligns with Mayor Cherelle Parker's first term, union members would see their wages increase by a total of 13.5%.
DC 47 represents a diverse group of over 6,000 "white-collar" city workers, including social workers, librarians, administrative assistants, city planners, and various other professional and technical staff members whose work is crucial to the daily operations of city government. The union's previous contract expired on June 30th.
In a joint statement, Mayor Parker and DC 47 leadership praised the outcome of the negotiations.
"Our city workers are the backbone of our government, and reaching a fair and competitive agreement that respects their contributions has been a top priority for my administration," said Mayor Cherelle Parker. "This tentative agreement honors the dedication of our employees and ensures that we can continue working together to deliver the clean, green, safe, and opportunity-filled city that Philadelphians deserve."
The leadership of DC 47 added, "Through the solidarity of our members and the tireless work of our negotiating committee, we have reached a tentative agreement that we believe recognizes the value and professionalism of our workforce. We are proud of this deal and will be presenting it to our members for a ratification vote with a strong recommendation for approval."
The next crucial step in the process is the ratification vote. The tentative agreement, which includes a 13.5% wage package, must now be approved by a majority of the DC 47 rank-and-file members. That vote is expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks.
