Union workers say ‘No contract, no peace!’

More than 1,000 municipal union workers, many coming straight from work, rallied in the rain in Love Park on June 18 to fight for their rights. Contracts for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Councils 33 and 47, as well as for the city’s fire and police unions, expire on June 30.

WW photo: Berta Joubert-Ceci

Although neither fire nor police unions were visible, there was a strong show of solidarity from Transport Union Workers Local 234, who work for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and Service Employees union Local 32BJ, whose members include city security guards.

In an effort to cut $125 million from union contracts over the next five years, Mayor Michael Nutter plans to keep wages flat, lower contributions to union health plans and reorganize pensions. Changes to the pension plans are already in the works if the contacts are not settled by June 30.

The Pennsylvania Retirement Commission is expected to declare Philadelphia’s underfunded pension plan “severely distressed.” The state rules for distressed pensions declare that a municipality can create a new pension plan first and negotiate with bargaining units afterward.

Current city rules for pension reforms require a change in city law and approval from the unions. Already, Nutter is sending legislation to the City Council that would create a two-tier pension plan, with newly hired workers receiving a lower benefit rate coupled with the option of a 401(k) plan into which they could pay.

Just like the United Auto Workers were forced, under threat of their livelihood, into no-strike pledges, wage freezes, pension cuts and other significant losses in benefits—only to have 22 plants shut down and 3,000 dealerships closed—Nutter’s threats to radically change the city workers’ benefits without negotiations is like holding a gun to the union leaders’ heads.

On stage, Pete Matthews, president of DC Local 33, reflected the sentiment of the crowd when he said, “There is a fiscal crisis in the country, but we didn’t cause it.” Someone from the throng hollered, “And we’re not going to take the fall for it.”

After a 40-minute, rain-soaked rally, hundreds of rank-and-file workers spontaneously took over the streets, stopping traffic and filling the air with such chants as “No contract, no peace” and “Shut it down!” Rush-hour traffic was blocked at all major intersections surrounding City Hall, opening up only long enough to let an emergency vehicle pass through. Many workers carried “on strike” signs from previous contract fights.

A city bus blocked the street, and the driver wailed on the horn in solidarity. The strength of the crowd was like an electric current that passed through every person there and a harbinger that if the Nutter administration pushes the give-back demands, the workers are ready to fight back!