Common Pleas judge hears arguments on union’s effort to block Mayor Parker’s back-to-work order

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The city and its white-collar workers union are squaring off in Common Pleas Court Thursday as the union seeks to block Mayor Parker’s back-to-work-in-person order .

District Council 47 claims the full-time return to work order should have been bargained, not imposed. Local 2187 president David Wilson testified the union, back in May, got only a half-hour’s notice before the mayor put out her order that city employees return to work five days a week starting next week.

He said his members felt “angry, upset and disrespected” by the move.

DC 47 president April Gigetts says the hybrid work schedule is something her members value.

“Being able to take care of your children, fix breakfast in the morning, seeing them off, medical issues that our members are able to navigate when they’re working from home,” she said.

Attorneys for the city argue that the return-to-office order is an issue of work location, not work schedule – and they have a management right to dictate that. The union is seeking an injunction to put the mayor’s order on hold while grievance and unfair labor practice complaints play out.

Testimony in the case will resume Friday at 9:30 a.m.