Labor leaders and union members from various Philadelphia based building and construction trades unions have been participating in an ongoing protest with general contractor, Post Goldtex GP, LLC. for wages and standards. The purpose of the protest is to protect the wages and benefits of the highly skilled men and women of the union construction industry throughout Philadelphia and vicinity. To date,  Post Goldtex has allegedly hired non-union workers in the form of independent contractors in an attempt to circumvent union standards.

This situation is still in doubt and, as per one high ranking union official,  make no mistake about this — if not resolved, the outcome of this very serious situation could negatively impact the FUTURE of the entire union construction industry throughout the Philadelphia region.

In a bitter contract dispute between the Fire Fighter’s Union and Mayor Nutter’s administration, after an arbitration panel first awarded a contract with pay raises to the firefighters in 2010, the city of Philadelphia appealed to Common Pleas Court to block the wage increase, arguing that the award did not comply with the law that created the Philadelphia Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, the city’s financial overseer. Local 22 of the International Association of Fire Fighters argued that their much-deserved pay increase came after the firefighters had worked without a raise or contract since 2009.

In a December 12, 2012 Press Release made by Philadelphia City Controller Alan Butkovitz stated, “It’s disconcerting that Philadelphia’s Fire Fighters have been without a contract since 2009, especially when these men and women put their lives on the line every day to ensure that citizens and visitors are protected.”

The city’s police officers may get a little extra cash just in time for the holiday season., An independent arbitration panel reopened a five-year police contract awarded in 2009 and issued an award Thursday that includes two years of wage increases., “This puts a little money in their pockets,” said John McNesby, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, who estimated this could mean roughly $1,800 a year for the average cop., But, the question now is will the Nutter administration appeal the award? POSTED: Thursday, December 20, 2012, 4:41 PM CITY CLOUT – Philly.com

In support of a message of solidarity conveyed by their union leadership, District Council 47 President Cathy Scott and DC 33 President Pete Matthews, worker’s From both the City’s white and Blue collar unions AFSCME DC #47 and DC #33 gathered outside Mayor Nutters home in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia to protest the fact that they have been without a contract since 2009. Mayor Nutter has said he needs to make changes to work rules and benefits but worker’s and leaders of both unions, frustrated and feeling disrespected by their lack of a contract for over 3 years, are not willing to make unnecessary concessions.

In a story reported by PhillyLabor back in June, after spending the entire morning volunteering at the Gary Papa Father’s Day Prostate Cancer 5K Run, on a scalding hot father’s Day, IBEW #98 Business Manager Johnny Doc, accompanied, #98 rep Brian Stevenson and other Local #98 officers in greeting and distributing informational handbills to the general public in support of their member’s hard fought wages and standards while demonstrating at the Roxborough Shop Rite who were alleged to have hired non-union electrical workers to work at night for substandard wages.

Why was this such a big story? Because it speaks volumes to why John Dougherty, local #98 and our entire Philadelphia area union community have been able to progress in the face of oppression when many of our country’s other former geographical area union strong holds have regressed. It also gives faith to know that high profile union leaders like Doc, not only give back to their communities in the morning, but they also are willing to “Walk the Walk” in the afternoon!

To put it in perspective, it was father’s day, the union officials volunteered all morning at the charity event and the protest was on the other side of town. Thus it would have been easy for Doc and Co to send out a few apprentices to do the un-glorified grass roots work of protesting a non-union job but they didn’t. The leaders of #98 went out there themselves and, to me, that speaks volumes to why the Philadelphia region is the Number #1 Union region in America!