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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the July 13, 2000
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------Phildelphia contract talks
Are gov't demands forcing workers to strike?
By Joe Piette
Philadelphia
Thousands of city workers march ed and rallied June 27 in front of Philadelphia City Hall to demand a fair contract that would make up for "give-back" contracts over the last eight years. During that time city officials bragged of budget surpluses as high as $200 million.
The city's contracts with the workers--who are represented by District Councils 33 and 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees--expired June 30.
Joining the rally were delegates to AFSCME's national convention and hundreds of hospital workers whose contracts at four hospitals also expired June 30.
City officials are pressuring union representatives to settle. They desperately want to avoid a strike during the Republican National Convention, which begins at the end of July.
Thousands of anti-death-penalty activists and other protesters have already promised to disrupt convention events that week.
Raising clasped hands together as a sign of unity during the rally were DC 33 President Pete Matthews, DC 47 President Thomas Cronin and President Henry Nicholas of District Council 1199C of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees.
Strike threat looms
AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee spoke. He pledged the national union's full support if a strike proved necessary.
McEntee and several other speakers bitterly criticized the city government's plan to spend $1.2 billion on two sports stadiums while claiming there were meager funds for city workers.
The possibility of a strike still loomed when negotiators for the 19,000 city workers ended their bargaining session with city representatives July 1. Union members continued to work after the June 30 contract deadline passed.
Negotiations between the city and DC 33, which represents blue-collar workers, were scheduled to resume July 5. Leaders of DC 47, which represents technical workers, have asked for a state mediator to intervene.
Administration demands against union members' health care plans seemed to be the main issue preventing a settlement.
On June 30 three hospitals agreed to five-year contracts with 1199C. Negotiations with the fourth, Children's Hospital, ended July 1 with a six-year agreement. Control of the union's pension plan had been the main sticking point.
The union announced a compromise with Children's Hospital on the pension issue. Under the settlement, workers with 15 or more years of seniority would remain on the union's pension plan. Other workers would be covered under a plan administered by ChildrenHospital.
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