Philadelphia Residents Urged To Avoid Dumping Trash On Sidewalks As Sanitation Workers’ Strike Enters Second Week

Philadelphia Residents Urged To Avoid Dumping Trash On Sidewalks As Sanitation Workers’ Strike Enters Second Week

Frustrations in Philadelphia are rising as the ongoing sanitation workers’ strike leaves trash piling up across the city.

City officials are urging residents to properly dispose of their waste, noting an increase in people leaving trash on sidewalks instead of using the temporary dump sites set up throughout the city.

Carlton Williams, head of the city’s Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, visited a South Philly trash-transfer site on Monday (July 7) to remind residents to follow sanitation rules, saying:

“When people start dumping outside of these dumpsters, that means I have to bring in additional crews… It becomes a problem not only to collect but for the residents who live in this location.”
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The strike has now entered its eighth day as of Tuesday, July 8, with District Council 33, the union representing nearly 9,000 city workers, still locked in “stale” negotiations with city leadership. Along with the growing mess across the city, the situation has prompted celebs like LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan to pull out of scheduled performances in Philly.

 

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Union officials say a new offer has been made to the city, though financial terms remain a major sticking point. The union is demanding 5% raises annually over the next three years. Meanwhile, sources say the city is offering just under 9% total, an offer Mayor Cherelle Parker has called “historic.”

It remains unclear how long talks will continue, but residents are making their feelings known, urging city officials to resolve the matter quickly and, in their words, to “pay them their money.”

What are your thoughts? 

[VIA]