DC 33

Photos by Mariel Waloff
 
Yesterday afternoon, hundreds of Philadelphians came out in the rain to send a message to state legislators (who were meeting nearby) that Mayor Nutter's attempt to balance the city budget on the backs of city workers is unacceptable.

 
On Tuesday, public employees from four major unions in Philadelphia (TWU 234, AFSCME D.C. 33 and D.C. 47 and SEIU 32BJ), will hold a rally to demand that local and state politicians do not solve the city and state fiscal shortfall on the backs of working class families and public employees.Squeezing low-wage workers is no way to deal with the economic crisis,said Wayne MacManiman, 32BJ Mid-Atlantic Area Director. We are calling on Mayor Nutter to protect the wages of the working people who keep our City running.”The rally comes at a critical time, as workers in AFSCME DC 33 and DC 47 as well as police and firefighters have been working without a contract since June 30th. While these unions are currently in contract negotiations with the City of Philadelphia, there is speculation that it will be difficult to find compromise as the Mayor seeks to flatten workers' wages and cut contributions in healthcare and pension.
 
Check out MMP's audio and video coverage of the last public employees rallyhere

On Thursday, thousands of workers congregated at Love Park in downtown Philadelphia to let Mayor Nutter know that they are prepared to fight and potentially strike for a fair contract. During the rally, workers from AFSCME District Council 33 were chanting "No Contract No Peace" and carrying signs which read "Shut it Down," and "On Strike-Municipal Workers D.C. 33." The contract between the City and four municipal unions including D.C. 33 and 47, and the police and firefighters unions, expires at midnight on June 30th. While the city seeks to flatten workers' wages and cut contributions in healthcare and pension to mitigate the budget shortfall, union leaders explain that they will not give up already hard won benefits, as workers did not "create this crisis."