Thousands of sanitation workers across the Northeast walked off the job Tuesday morning in separate contract disputes that have halted trash collection in Philadelphia and more than a dozen Massachusetts communities during the busy Fourth of July week.
Nearly 10,000 Philadelphia city workers represented by AFSCME District Council 33 went on strike at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday after contract negotiations with Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration broke down. Hours later, more than 400 Republic Services employees in Massachusetts began their own work stoppage, affecting 16 communities in the Greater Boston area.
The Philadelphia strike marks the first time the city's largest blue-collar union has walked off the job in nearly 40 years, since a 20-day strike in 198612. The work stoppage has suspended residential trash collection citywide and forced the closure of some city pools while shortening recreation center hours3.
"We've got people that work and repair the water mains and can't afford their water bill," union President Greg Boulware said at a City Hall rally Monday, criticizing wage disparities in city government4.
The union initially sought 8% annual raises over three years, plus cost-of-living adjustments and pandemic bonuses up to $5,0003. Parker countered with a 13% increase over her four-year term, calling it "a fair offer and still fiscally responsible for the people of this city"3.
The city has opened 63 temporary trash drop-off sites and moved 200 police officers into 911 operations to handle dispatch duties normally performed by striking workers1. Officials warned residents to expect longer wait times when calling emergency services.
In Massachusetts, Teamsters Local 25 members struck Republic Services facilities in communities including Peabody, Gloucester, Wakefield, and Arlington12. The workers are demanding improved wages, benefits, and labor protections from the waste management company.
"If your rubbish is piling up on the Fourth of July, remember who's responsible for it: the white-collar criminals who run Republic Services," Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien said in a statement12.
Republic Services expressed disappointment that "the union called a work stoppage rather than continue negotiating in good faith," according to CBS Boston2. The company said it has contingency plans to maintain service.
Both strikes come during one of the busiest weeks of the summer, with Independence Day celebrations planned across both regions. Philadelphia expects hundreds of thousands of visitors for its Welcome America festivities, while Massachusetts communities face potential trash accumulation during holiday gatherings.
"The cost of living in Massachusetts is outrageous," said one striking worker in Peabody. "The money we're getting paid is way under what it costs to survive nowadays"1.