Latest news with #PhiladelphiaStrike
Al Arabiya
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
LL Cool J Says He Won't Perform at Philadelphia's July Fourth Festival in Support of Workers Strike
Rapper LL Cool J said he won't perform at a Fourth of July festival in Philadelphia in support of a strike by nearly 10,000 city workers. The rapper and actor had been scheduled to appear at the Wawa Welcome America Festival on Friday along with R&B singer and Philadelphia native Jazmine Sullivan and other performers. LL Cool J said in a video posted on social media that '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 hope, I hope, I hope that, you know, the mayor and the city can make a deal. I hope it works out,' he said. LL Cool J also said that he never wants to disappoint his fans and that he plans to be in Philadelphia in case an agreement is reached. The festival comes as the strike moved into a fourth day Friday. Trash has been piling up in some areas and more than 30 Medical Examiner's Office staffers have been ordered back to work because of a growing backlog of bodies in storage. The latest talks between the city and leaders of District Council 33 – the largest of four major unions representing city workers – ended late Wednesday. Both sides have said they were willing to continue negotiations. The union represents many of the city's blue-collar workers, from trash collectors to clerks to security guards. Police and firefighters are not on strike. The city has offered a three-year contract with annual raises of about 3 percent, which the union said amounts to little more than $1,000 after taxes for members making $46,000 a year on average. Mayor Cherelle Parker has said the city has put its best offer on the table. She stressed that the effective 13 percent pay hike over her four-year term – including last year's 5 percent bump – along with a fifth step on the pay scale would be the best contract the union has seen in decades. Parker responded to LL Cool J's statement saying that she spoke with him on Thursday. 'I respect his decision and understand his desire to see the city unified,' the mayor said. 'He is always welcome in Philadelphia.' The union also responded, saying LL Cool J's support for municipal workers highlights his commitment to social justice and community well-being. 'His support not only brings attention to our efforts but also inspires others to recognize and advocate for the rights and respect of all workers,' the union said. 'It's heartening to see public figures using their influence to champion causes that matter to everyday people.' On Thursday, Common Pleas Court Judge Sierra Thomas-Street approved the city's request to have the medical examiner's office staffers return to work because bodies have been piling up there in storage, posing a health and safety risk. Those workers include death and forensic investigators, forensic technicians, and clerks. The order came a day after the judge ordered some emergency service dispatchers and essential water department employees back to work. Mounting trash piles in some parts of the city were also still causing grief for residents and officials, who have strongly urged residents to follow the collection guidelines imposed when the strike began Tuesday. They also urged residents to report problems at the trash collection sites and noted trash is being cleared as fast as possible and the city is working to open more sites.
The Independent
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
LL Cool J says he won't perform at Philadelphia's July Fourth festival in support of workers strike
Rapper LL Cool J says he will not perform at a Fourth of July festival in Philadelphia in support of a strike by nearly 10,000 city workers in Philadelphia. The rapper and actor had been scheduled to appear at the Wawa Welcome America Festival on Friday, along with R&B singer and Philadelphia native Jazmine Sullivan and other performers. LL Cool J said in a video posted on social media that '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 hope, I hope, I hope that, you know, the mayor and the city can make a deal. I hope it works out,' he said. LL Cool J also said that he never wants to disappoint his fans and that he plans to be in Philadelphia in case an agreement is reached. The festival comes as the strike moved into a fourth day Friday. Trash has been piling up in some areas and more than 30 Medical Examiner's Office staffers have been ordered back to work because of a growing backlog of bodies in storage. The latest talks between the city and leaders of District Council 33 — the largest of four major unions representing city workers — ended late Wednesday. Both sides have said they were willing to continue negotiations. The union represents many of the city's blue-collar workers, from trash collectors to clerks to security guards. Police and firefighters are not on strike. The city has offered a three-year contract with annual raises of about 3%, which the union said amounts to little more than $1,000 after taxes for members making $46,000 a year on average. Mayor Cherelle Parker has said the city has 'put its best offer on the table.' She stressed that the effective 13% pay hike over her four-year term -- including last year's 5% bump – along with a fifth step on the pay scale would be the best contract the union has seen in decades. Parker responded to LL Cool J's statement, saying that she spoke with him on Thursday. "I respect his decision, and understand his desire to see the city unified," the mayor said. 'He is always welcome in Philadelphia.' The union also responded, saying LL Cool J's support for municipal workers 'highlights his commitment to social justice and community well-being.' 'His support not only brings attention to our efforts but also inspires others to recognize and advocate for the rights and respect of all workers,' the union said. 'It's heartening to see public figures using their influence to champion causes that matter to everyday people.' On Thursday, Common Pleas Court Judge Sierra Thomas-Street approved the city's request to have the medical examiner's office staffers return to work because bodies have been piling up there in storage, posing a health and safety risk. Those workers include death and forensic investigators, forensic technicians and clerks. The order came a day after the judge ordered some emergency service dispatchers and essential water department employees back to work. Mounting trash piles in some parts of the city were also still causing grief for residents and officials, who have strongly urged residents to follow the collection guidelines imposed when the strike began Tuesday. They also urged residents to report problems at the trash collection sites, and noted trash is being cleared as fast as possible and the city is working to open more sites.
Associated Press
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
LL Cool J says he won't perform at Philadelphia's July Fourth festival in support of workers strike
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rapper LL Cool J says he will not perform at a Fourth of July festival in Philadelphia in support of a strike by nearly 10,000 city workers in Philadelphia. The rapper and actor had been scheduled to appear at the Wawa Welcome America Festival on Friday, along with R&B singer and Philadelphia native Jazmine Sullivan and other performers. LL Cool J said in a video posted on social media that '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 hope, I hope, I hope that, you know, the mayor and the city can make a deal. I hope it works out,' he said. LL Cool J also said that he never wants to disappoint his fans and that he plans to be in Philadelphia in case an agreement is reached. The festival comes as the strike moved into a fourth day Friday. Trash has been piling up in some areas and more than 30 Medical Examiner's Office staffers have been ordered back to work because of a growing backlog of bodies in storage. The latest talks between the city and leaders of District Council 33 — the largest of four major unions representing city workers — ended late Wednesday. Both sides have said they were willing to continue negotiations. The union represents many of the city's blue-collar workers, from trash collectors to clerks to security guards. Police and firefighters are not on strike. The city has offered a three-year contract with annual raises of about 3%, which the union said amounts to little more than $1,000 after taxes for members making $46,000 a year on average. Mayor Cherelle Parker has said the city has 'put its best offer on the table.' She stressed that the effective 13% pay hike over her four-year term -- including last year's 5% bump – along with a fifth step on the pay scale would be the best contract the union has seen in decades. Parker responded to LL Cool J's statement, saying that she spoke with him on Thursday. 'I respect his decision, and understand his desire to see the city unified,' the mayor said. 'He is always welcome in Philadelphia.' The union also responded, saying LL Cool J's support for municipal workers 'highlights his commitment to social justice and community well-being.' 'His support not only brings attention to our efforts but also inspires others to recognize and advocate for the rights and respect of all workers,' the union said. 'It's heartening to see public figures using their influence to champion causes that matter to everyday people.' On Thursday, Common Pleas Court Judge Sierra Thomas-Street approved the city's request to have the medical examiner's office staffers return to work because bodies have been piling up there in storage, posing a health and safety risk. Those workers include death and forensic investigators, forensic technicians and clerks. The order came a day after the judge ordered some emergency service dispatchers and essential water department employees back to work. Mounting trash piles in some parts of the city were also still causing grief for residents and officials, who have strongly urged residents to follow the collection guidelines imposed when the strike began Tuesday. They also urged residents to report problems at the trash collection sites, and noted trash is being cleared as fast as possible and the city is working to open more sites.
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
A Trashy Fourth of July in Philadelphia
Public unions are often at odds with the public interest, and Exhibit A is Philadelphia this week. Heading into the Fourth of July, the home of Independence Hall is greeting holiday guests with garbage piles on streets and limited city services. That's thanks to one of the city's biggest worker strikes in decades. The city's District Council 33, an affiliate of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees representing some 9,000 workers, went on strike just after 12 a.m. Tuesday. Initially demanding an 8% pay raise for each of the next three years, along with benefit increases, the union had backed down Monday night to 5%, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. But Mayor Cherelle Parker's offer of a 2.75% raise, followed by two years of 3% hikes and on top of a 5% raise in the last contract, wasn't enough for the union. The union chose to strike as soon as its previous contract expired, and the decision, well, is starting to stink. Members include garbage collectors, and trash is piling up as residents haul their refuse to select locations. 'Dumpsters that the city has set up as trash drop-off locations were overflowing with refuse Wednesday, with a notable stench infusing the muggy air,' the Inquirer reports. 'This is a nightmare,' resident Renee Dennis told an ABC affiliate. Union members also include 911 dispatchers and water plant workers. A judge ordered these employees back to their posts Tuesday, but a city website warns 911 callers that they 'may still experience longer wait times.' The city solicitor said the medical examiner's office was 'critically understaffed,' and a judge also ordered those workers back Thursday. Better wait to have that heart attack.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Philadelphia city workers strike after contract talks fail
Nearly 10,000 city workers in Philadelphia who collect trash, answer 911 calls, maintain city pools and perform other jobs went on strike Tuesday after contract negotiations broke down. District Council 33 President Greg Boulware said the city hadn't agreed to a high enough wage increase, WPVI-TV reported. Mayor Cherelle Parker said the city would suspend residential trash collection, close some city pools and shorten recreation center hours, but vowed to keep the city running. Police and firefighters are not on strike. Parker, a pro-labor Democrat, promised that Fourth of July celebrations in the nation's birthplace would go on as usual. 'Keep your holiday plans. Don't leave the city," she said at a Monday afternoon news conference that followed hours of last-minute negotiations. City officials urged residents to be patient and not hang up should they need to call either 911 or the city's non-emergency helpline. They said they would open drop-off sites for residential trash. Parker said she had offered raises that amount to 13% over her four-year term and added a fifth step to the pay scale to align with other unionized workers. District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is the largest of four unions representing city workers. 'We believe it's a fair offer and still fiscally responsible for the people of this city,' said Parker, who took office last year. Union leaders, in their initial contract proposal, asked for 8% annual raises each year of the three-year contract, along with cost-of-living hikes and bonuses of up to $5,000 for those who worked through the pandemic. The union also asked the city to pay the full cost of employee health care, or $1,700 per person per month. 'District Council 33's members contribute as much blood, sweat and tears as does anyone else,' they said in a demand letter. 'We all make the city work. Our contract must reflect that reality.' In November, the city transit system averted a strike when the parties agreed to a one-year contract with 5% raises.
