Philadelphia City Workers Must Return to the Office Despite Injunction Denial
Philadelphia’s 26,000 city workers are required to report to the office starting Monday, July 15, after a judge denied an injunction request for Mayor Cherelle Parker’s new policy that mandates in-person work five days a week.
Mayor Parker stated, “I promised the City that they would have a government they could see, touch, and feel. I want every member of our workforce to know: I’m a pro-Union, pro-worker Mayor, and I thank you for all your service every day to make Philadelphia better.”
MORE: Philly City Employees Await Ruling on Union Lawsuit
Following a hearing in the Common Pleas Court, counsel for the city and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 47, representing white-collar workers, met to discuss an emergency injunction to put a halt to the policy’s implementation. The union argued that the new policy would make it harder to fill vacancies and highlighted a backlog of Americans with Disabilities Act accommodation requests awaiting approval.
Judge Sierra Thomas-Street ruled that the union did not prove irreparable harm, leading to the policy going into effect on Monday. The union has requested expedited arbitration to determine if the topic is subject to collective bargaining.
City Chief Administration Officer, Camille Duchaussee, emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive workplace culture and shared purpose among employees, even if it means returning to in-person work. District Council 47 President April Gigetts expressed concerns about the impact the new policy will have, anticipating some employees leaving immediately.
The debate also revolves around whether collective bargaining occurred during the creation and updates of the virtual work policy. The union claims they engaged in a bargaining process, while the city highlights the formation of an alternative work steering committee in 2023.
As negotiations for the union’s contract with the city continue, the decision to enforce in-person work may influence future talks. Union members have testified about the benefits of remote work and have expressed concerns about the lack of response to ADA accommodation requests.
To support employees with caregiving responsibilities at home, the city plans to introduce a new service called Just in Time Care. However, details about eligibility for the service have not been disclosed yet.