DISTRICT COUNCIL 33 AUTHORIZES STRIKE
AFSCME DISTRICT COUNCIL 33 MEMBERS VOTE 2949-449 IN FAVOR OF STRIKE
STRIKE VOTE
On Thursday November 14 th, District Council 33 announced the results of its strike vote- 87% of participating members voted to strike in an overwhelming majority.
AS OF NOVEMBER 20, WE ARE NOT ON STRIKE.
The results of this vote grant the District Council 33 Executive Board the authority to strike. It does not mean that a strike is guaranteed, nor does it set a date or a time for the start of the strike.
We have received many questions about what happens next, and we regret to say that the answer to most of them is “wait and see.” What happens next will largely be determined by the DC33 Executive Board’s negotiation with the City of Philadelphia- meetings members are not allowed to attend, and can be scheduled at any time.
ADDRESSING ANXIETY
By: J. Matthew Catron
I’ve talked to more members than I can count about the potential strike. The path is clear: The vast majority of members are ready to strike for fair wages, but even with that level of buy-in, people are worried. It’s perfectly okay to be nervous. Your fear is valid, and you shouldn’t allow anyone to tell you otherwise. With that said, we must not allow that feeling to control us.
Strikes are hard, and they are not optional. If DC33 declares a strike, all members must stop work immediately. With most of us living paycheck to paycheck- or worse- it can seem like an impossible task. But that is no reason to back down. It is the very reason we must fight! We can not afford to continue working for poverty wages in one of the largest cities in America. A fight for fair wages is the only way we can secure our future- A future where City workers are thriving in our city, and not simply surviving.
Regardless of what happens in the coming days and weeks, the single most important thing is that we stand with our coworkers. Talk to the people in your shop. If they’re feeling insecure, help them identify their options in the event of a work stoppage- we’ve included some information on resources in the next piece.
Strike Resources
District Council 33 has announced that it has a strike fund for assisting members through a strike. Details on what exactly this means and how to access that fund are not yet available.
Philadelphia Federal Credit Union will offer $3,000 loans at interest rates as low as 1% in the event of a strike. You may sign up for this loan using your PFCU direct deposit, or by taking a copy of your most recent paystub to a PFCU location. This loan will only be available if and when we strike. We’ve attached the official flyer to the digital version of this newsletter- scan the QR code at the bottom to see more details.
Local 696 General Membership Meeting
The last Local Meeting of 2024 is THIS THURSDAY November 21 st. We expect to learn more about the potential strike then.
Please note: This newsletter is posted in places accessible to the public, including management. Due to the sensitive, confidential nature of strike strategy, we will not be widely distributing the specifics of the information at the November 21 st meeting. Please contact us at info@696rabblerousers.com or contact Local 696 directly at 215-895-3330.
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