– Pete Matthews, the President of AFSCME District Council 33, today announced that contract negotiations between the Union and the City of Philadelphia are set to resume on Friday February 21, 2014 (location to be determined) and should continue, around the clock if necessary, until a fair contract settlement is reached.

Matthews said the contract negotiations have dragged on for more than five years due to the Nutter Administration’s insistence on what Matthews characterized as “unjustified concessionary demands” regarding furlough days, pension and overtime cuts, and health benefit changes.

Matthews noted that District Council 33 members have continued to work in every department in the City this year during the worst winter in recent memory. For the last five-plus years, union members have not gone on strike and, while continuing to work each and every day, have helped the City financially by foregoing raises and health care increases during that time.

Matthews said that District Council 33 members have earned the right to a fair contract settlement as a result of their dedication and the sacrifices they have already made.

The union was instrumental in helping the Nutter Administration achieve legislative approval for an increase in the sales tax which generated over $425 million in new revenue and allowing pension trustees to defer pension payments saving the City millions of dollars.

“District Council 33 members who work for the City have waited long enough, and contributed more than their fair share to help the City through the recent recession, not receiving health benefit and wage increases in over six years,” said Matthews. “That has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in savings and five balanced budgets that kept the City on a steadfast growth to a Wall Street A plus bond rating, which, according to the City is ‘its highest level ever’. Mayor Nutter has admitted that the improved bond rating reflected the City’s strong financial position.”

Matthews added: “It is time for the Nutter Administration to return to the bargaining table and demonstrate a more serious intent to get this contract settled.”