Mayor Cherelle Parker emphasized the city’s focus on balancing fair contract negotiations with fiscal responsibility, highlighting transparency and community needs.

A significant portion of the additional expenses, approximately $2.4 million, was allocated to the Philadelphia Police Department for increased security and related costs.

Overall, Philadelphia faced $6.2 million in new expenses related to sanitation, emergency services, repairs, legal fees, and support programs due to the strike.

The strike lasted from July 1 to 8, disrupting many city services, including trash collection, and leading to extensive financial and operational impacts.

The strike ended on July 9, with union members returning to work after reaching an agreement that included a three-year contract with 3% annual raises, a $1,500 bonus, and an expanded pay scale.

In July, an eight-day strike by AFSCME District Council 33 in Philadelphia resulted in a total cost of over $5.4 million to the city, impacting municipal services and incurring significant expenses.

During the strike, the city paid vendors such as Waste Management and Elliot-Lewis to handle trash, and spent an additional $2.1 million on heavy equipment to manage illegal dumping and debris.

The city incurred about $1.26 million in daily extra costs during the strike, mainly from hiring contractors and paying overtime to Water Department supervisors.

The strike was led by Philadelphia’s largest union, DC33, which includes frontline workers such as trash collectors, street pavers, and 911 operators.

Trash collection and other municipal services were severely affected, prompting the city to set up 63 dumpster sites at a cost of $3.4 million for residents to dispose of waste.

Vandalism of city vehicles during the strike caused approximately $78,000 in damages, including over 155 pieces of equipment like compactors and sweepers.

The city saved about $4.7 million in payroll costs by not paying union workers during the strike, but spent an extra $3.9 million on non-union workers and incurred $6.2 million in other unforeseen expenses.