Latest news with #municipalworkers
The Herald
09-07-2025
- General
- The Herald
Programme launched to upskill public servants in human settlements sector
News Premium By Faith Mtwana - 09 July 2025 The Eastern Cape human settlements department, in partnership with Nelson Mandela University, has launched a short learning programme aimed at equipping public servants with specialised knowledge in the human settlements sector. The programme, the first of its kind in the province, is specially designed for municipal office workers, councillors, politicians and traditional leaders who are directly involved in housing and service delivery...
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Surprising reason LL Cool J is refusing to perform at 4th of July concert
LL Cool J has withdrawn from headlining Philadelphia's Fourth of July concert, stating he will not cross a picket line formed by striking municipal workers. Nearly 10,000 Philadelphia city workers, primarily represented by AFSCME District Council 33, are on strike demanding better pay and improved work conditions. The rapper announced his decision via Instagram, emphasising his refusal to perform for money while people are fighting for a living wage, though he will still be in the city. The strike, which commenced earlier in the week, has seen negotiations between the city and union leaders stall, with no immediate new talks scheduled. The union, representing a majority of the city's blue-collar workforce, is also seeking flexibility on the city residency requirement for employees. LL Cool J refuses to perform at Philadelphia's 4th of July concert until workers' strike ends
CBS News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
LL Cool J says he won't perform at Wawa Welcome America until Philadelphia strike ends
LL Cool J won't perform in the Wawa Welcome America Fourth of July Concert on Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Friday, saying he won't "cross a picket line" amid the ongoing strike in Philadelphia involving the city's largest municipal workers' union. "Yo, so, I understand there's a lot going on in Philadelphia right now, and I never, ever, ever want to disappoint my fans, especially Philadelphia, y'all mean too much to me," LL Cool J said in a post on Instagram on Thursday night. "But there's absolutely no way that I can perform, cross a picket line, and pick up money when I know that people are out there fighting for a living wage. I'm not doing that, you know what I'm saying? I've been coming to Philly my whole life, you know? I have respect for the city, you know what I'm saying? Of course, I hope, I hope, I hope that the mayor and the city can make a deal, I hope it works out. I'm still going to come to Philly in case it works out. I'm going to be in town, ya'll. I'm just letting you know, I'm not going to cross a picket line and perform for money when people are hurt. That's it, so I love y'all. I'm on my way to Philly. Peace and love." LL Cool J is a headliner for the annual event along the Parkway with Philadelphia native Jazmine Sullivan. LL Cool J announced he wouldn't be performing at Wawa Welcome America as Philadelphia's largest blue-collar union, AFSCME District Council 33, has been on strike for three days. The union represents trash collectors, police dispatchers and more. Union leaders are fighting for higher wages as well as health care benefits for all members. CBS News Philadelphia has reached out to Mayor Cherelle Parker's office for comment, but we've yet to hear back. This is a developing story and will be updated.
CBS News
03-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Trash mountains, "unbelievable" stench take over Philadelphia as municipal workers' strike continues
Philadelphia's trash strike continues as city begins to smell with piles as tall as people Philadelphia's trash strike continues as city begins to smell with piles as tall as people Philadelphia's trash strike continues as city begins to smell with piles as tall as people As the Philadelphia municipal workers' strike continues without an agreement, mountains of trash continue to pile, and the city is starting to smell. Many city streets are lined with piles of garbage, some so big that they're taller than people. At Princeton and Hawthorne in the city's Mayfair neighborhood, a heaping mound of trash has grown so large it has forced the city to put up tape and direct people to a sanitation convenience center at State and Ashburner for them to drop off their garbage. A trash pile-up in Philadelphia's Mayfair section at Princeton Avenue and Hawthorne Street as the city's municipal workers' strike continued into its third day Thursday. CBS News Philadelphia "The stench is unbelievable," Felix Romelien of Mayfair said. "Wasn't nice in the car because of the smell," Dave Kennedy, of Mayfair, said. "It's not fun." Trash continued to pile up Thursday at the corner of Princeton and Hawthorne in Mayfair. Most people who stopped by abandoned the dumpster or were unwilling to navigate their way around the growing mounds of garbage to get there. "No, actually it's grown," Romelien said. "In the past couple of days, it's grown so much." CBS News Philadelphia "It's just going to keep piling up, piling up," Patrick Glynn of Mayfair said. "We're going to have rats here tonight like this." Glynn lives near one of the 63 temporary drop-off sites set up throughout the city. "This is what you see," Glynn said. "It's only going to get worse and worse." CBS News Philadelphia Frank Copley lives across the street. "It's frustrating what they're doing to the city," Copley said. The two men said one of their biggest frustrations as they've watched the trash pile mount is seeing people dump seemingly anything and everything. "People are leaving furniture, beds, TVs," Copley said. CBS News Philadelphia "They're just coming here and dumping," Glynn said. "Contractors. I've seen people doing lawn, landscaping stuff thrown out here. I've seen the whole nine yards." Neighbors also pointed out that this city drop-off site is located about 50 yards from Mayfair Elementary, a school that is still hosting children in summer programs. People in the area questioned the placement of the dumpster. "They've got two football fields, parking lot," Copley said. "Why did they have to put it in the middle of the sidewalk?" A school security officer came out after 1 p.m. and placed caution tape around the entire site. A spokesperson for the School District of Philadelphia said they cannot comment on the drop-off sites. We've reached out to the city for a statement and are waiting to hear back.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Parker says city has offered District Council 33 'largest one-term pay increase' in over 30 years
PHILADELPHIA - As negotiations between District Council 33 and the City of Philadelphia near a Tuesday deadline, Mayor Cherelle Parker says her administration has offered the largest wage increase of any mayor in their first term over the last 30 years. "Municipal workers who are part of Council 33 are among our most valued assets as a city," Parker said in a video posted to Facebook on Saturday morning. District Council 33 represents 9,000 city employees, including the sanitation workers, members of the water department, and 911 dispatch. They have demanded higher wages and pension improvements. The backstory The City of Philadelphia and District Council 33 have until midnight Tuesday to avert a strike after 95% of its members voted in favor of walking off the job until a new contract is reached. The strike would mean services across all corners of the city will be impacted. The work stoppage would affect rec centers, pools, libraries, the water department, 911 dispatch, airport workers and sanitation. A work stoppage could begin at the height of the summer heat and during the Welcome America Festival. What they're saying As high-stakes negotiations dragged into the weekend, Mayor Cherelle Parker said the city's current offer includes the highest pay increase for District Council 33 members in a mayor's first term in more than 30 years. "I am unapologetically a pro-union, pro-labor, and pro-worker mayor," Parker said. "I will always support the men and women in our city who pick up our trash, clean our streets, care for our most vulnerable citizens, provide healthcare to residents, run into burning buildings to save people, and put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve the people of our great city," she said. Parker outlined wage increases for District Council 33 members in a mayor's first term over the last 30 years, and claimed her 12% pay bump is the highest such raise. Ed Rendell increased District Council 33 wages by 5% in his first term as mayor. John Street dolled out a 9% increase during his first four years in office. Michael Nutter didn't raise wages at all in his first term. And former mayor Jim Kenney gave out a 11.5% raise to District Council 33 members in his first term. "That increase of more than 12%, it will represent the largest one-term pay increase for District Council 33 from any mayor in more than 3 decades," Parker said. In her first year alone, Parker said the city and the union agreed to a 5% pay increase – the largest one-year wage bump that the union has seen in three decades. "For an average District Council 33 worker, that meant an average annual pay increase of $2,383," Parker said. "If the workforce of District Council 33 accepts the proposal that we have already put on the table for them, their pay increase will total over 12%." The other side Mayor Parker hopes to avert a strike by making good on one of District Council 33's largest sticking points of wage increases. Union boss Greg Boulware on Thursday said they made "minimal progress on certain topics, but not enough to avoid a strike at this time." In addition to wage increases, District Council 33 has demanded improvements to pensions. What's next As the possibility of a strike that would grind crucial city services to a halt looms, sources tell FOX 29 News that department heads are preparing contingency plans. "Even if a deal does not take place, we will talk about plan B. I want to be optimistic that they will stay at the table because the City of Philadelphia does not want a strike," said City Council President Kenyatta Johnson. The 9,000 District Council 33 members could also be joined on the picket lines by members of the city's white-collar employees. AFSCME District Council 47 and its 3,000 workers are also in contract negotiations with the city.
