Trash Piles Up in Philadelphia Garbage Strike

It's now in day 7, and talks have stalled
Posted Jul 7, 2025 2:28 PM CDT
Trash Piles Up in Philadelphia Garbage Strike
A woman drops off trash at a garbage collection site, Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Philadelphia.   (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Trash is starting to pile up in Philadelphia: A strike by the city's largest municipal workers' union entered its seventh day on Monday, reports CBS News. What's more, negotiations between the city and AFSCME District Council 33 stalled over the weekend, with no word on when they might resume, per the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The administration of Mayor Cherelle Parker is offering a three-year deal with raises that total 8.75% per the Inquirer. Parker, however, sees it as a 13% raise, factoring in a bump in the first year of her administration. Union president Greg Boulware says the union is seeking 5% annual raises over the next three years. Both sides say they've made compromises, but neither side sees much movement.

Meanwhile, trash continues to accumulate. The city has set up dozens of temporary drop-off sites, but many are overflowing, with garbage spilling onto streets and sidewalks. Critics of the mayor have dubbed the growing mounds "ParkerPiles" on social media.

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