Philly trash strike could evolve into political mess for mayor
Why it matters: Bags of trash are piling up in residential neighborhoods across the city — an optics mess for an elected official who promised to make Philly "safer, cleaner, greener."
State of play: The Parker administration is at an impasse with AFSCME District Council 33 (DC33) over salary increases and other benefits in a new contract for the union's more than 9,000 members.
This weekend's Fourth of July celebrations, including the Wawa Welcome America festival, will test the Parker administration's mettle.
The latest: City officials offered to return to the negotiations table Thursday, but the union declined to do so, Parker said at a news conference.
"The city of Philadelphia cannot negotiate with itself."
Catch up quick: The administration has obtained a court order requiring scores of essential city workers to return to work. The city has set up dozens of trash drop-off locations throughout Philly.
Even so, residents have complained they're still dealing with overflowing heaps of garbage.
Flashback: Philly's last major trash strike came nearly four decades ago.
After almost three weeks, 45,000 tons of "stinking, maggot-laced garbage" had piled up at neighborhood disposal sites, per the Inquirer.
What we're hearing: That's not a bullet point any first-term mayor wants to have on their résumé, community and political observers say.
The other side: In a Facebook post on Thursday, Parker defended the city's offer to the union as one that includes the "largest one-year raise for DC 33" in more than three decades.
"This isn't just about pay," she wrote. "It's about respect. It's about building a future where our city's frontline workers thrive."
Between the lines: Community activist Terrill Haigler, aka Ya Fav Trashman, tells Axios his inbox has been flooded with complaints about private companies looking to capitalize on the crisis.
Haigler, who runs a nonprofit, says he's also offering trash pickup but keeping his prices to $15 a house.
About 100 residents have taken advantage, and dozens more are scheduled. "This is really bad timing," he says.
The state Attorney General's Office hasn't received any complaints about price gouging.
What they're saying: The longer a strike like this goes on in a pro-labor city like Philly, former radio host and city resident Tonya Pendleton tells Axios, the greater the potential to alienate blue-collar voters.
"As the temperatures increase, so does the pressure," she says. "You never pay attention to essential services until you don't have them."
Political analyst Larry Ceisler says Parker has done a better job sharing her message with the public than union leaders have, which will help her gain more understanding from disgruntled constituents, Ceisler tells Axios.
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