Thousands of government employees return to the office full-time, days after judge upheld mayor’s mandate

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Thousands of Philadelphia government employees who have been working remotely are returning in person Monday, days after a judge upheld Mayor Cherelle Parker’s back-to-the-office order .

AFSCME District Council 47, the union that represents the city’s white-collar workers, said in a statement that “affected workers should report as directed to their office or worksite.”

“We will continue to pursue a fair resolution through the contractual grievance process and hope that the city will accept our request for expedited arbitration in this matter,” the statement continues. “We look forward to negotiating with the Parker administration . We remain committed to building a 21st-century city government that serves all Philadelphians.”

Around 80% of city employees have been back to working in person for some time. The union filed a lawsuit asking a judge to hit the breaks on Parker’s plan to mandate the rest of the workforce’s return to the office on July 15. During hearings on Thursday and Friday, the union argued that the order violated its contract and would harm city workers.

Eight employees testified on Friday about difficulties with child and elder care, as well as disabilities that would make it difficult to return to the office full-time. The judge, however, ruled the union failed to show irreparable harm to the workers if they had to report to work in person.

Parker has defended her plan, arguing that taxpayers should have a government they can “see, touch and feel.” Plus, having workers back in Center City, she argued, would be a big economic boost and create a “more vibrant Philadelphia.”

The union posted on social media that the mayor was “putting corporate profits over the people of Philadelphia.”