Philadelphia's white-collar workers union sues to stop Mayor Cherelle Parker's return-to-office mandate

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The union representing Philadelphia’s white-collar city workers is suing Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration over its return-to-office mandate.

Parker ordered all 26,000 employees back to their offices full-time beginning July 15, including the 20% who are still remote or hybrid. But District Council 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees says the mayor doesn’t have the power to do that unilaterally , that it must be negotiated.

“We’ve always bargained it,” said April Gigetts, union president.

“We’ve met with the city. We’ve met with the [Department of Labor] and, based on their operational needs, we have come to an agreement around what kind of hybrid work that particular department will do.”

District Council 47 filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Its suit asks the court not to let the city impose the policy until the grievance is decided.

“We need that to be heard at the arbitration and a decision to be made around whether our position is what we believe it is,” Gigetts said.

Gigetts says the city has not offered a compelling reason for the policy shift.

“This is no operational impediment to the city. We’ve been doing it for four years. There’s been no reduction in service, and the city admitted it’s not about productivity.”

Gigetts says her concern is not only for her members but also for the city’s ability to provide services.

“From what I’m hearing from members, people are going to leave. This is a way to be competitive with the private sector,” she said. “And even Montgomery County put out a poaching post [saying] that our members could come work for Montgomery County.”

The Parker administration takes the position that it is not a collective-bargaining decision.

When the mayor announced the new policy, she said:

“Employee presence at the workplace allows for more personal and productive interactions, facilitates communication, and promotes social connections — along with collaboration, innovation and inclusion. It delivers on my promise of an accessible city workforce that is best situated to serve the people of Philadelphia. A more consistent in-office presence will result in work environments where equal employment opportunity and diversity, equity and inclusion are truly realized.”

The mayor’s spokesman says her position is unchanged despite the lawsuit.

A hearing on the matter has not yet been scheduled.