EARLY 2025 UPDATES
RETRO PAY
There have been a number of confusing communications from the Finance Department regarding the retroactive pay DC33 members are owed from the 2024 contract.
In a Facebook post on 30 January, District Council 33 assured members that we will receive our retro pay. They explained that the City is not beholden to a 30-day timeframe as of the ratification, and that 30-day limit was exclusively for the $1,400 bonus.
Charges against Boulware
In June 2024, a group of DC33 Executive Board members filed charges against newly elected DC33 President Greg Boulware. AFSCME International ruled on those charges on 6 January 2025. In summary, all but one charge was dismissed. President Boulware was issued a formal reprimand from AFSCME International for terminating DC33’s contract with the law firm Willig, Williams, and Davidson and retaining the services of Spear Wildman P.C. without DC33 Executive Board approval.
The full case is available online here.
Mark WEAVER RESIGNS
Business Agent Mark Weaver resigned from his position in December 2024.
In the January Executive Board meeting, Executive Board Member Aurellia Harrell was elected to serve the remainder of Weaver’s term.
As of this printing, the Executive Board vacancy left by Harrell and the Steward/Delegate vacancy left by Weaver have not been filled.
2023 Business Agent Candidate J. Matthew Catron reached out to President Anthony Dinkins regarding Weaver’s resignation, and received no response.
Next Local 696 meeting: 20 march 2025
W-2s Available
W-2s are now available through OnePhilly. Free tax filing assistance is available through the Campaign for Working Families at www.cwfphilly.org.
PLANE CRASH IN NORTHEAST PHILLY
On 30 January, 2025, a medical jet crashed in Northeast Philly, near Roosevelt and Cottman.
Northeast Regional Library is temporarily closed as a result of this incident.
Business Agent Aurellia Harrel in the Facebook group Philadelphia Municipal Workers United encouraged members to call the Local 696 office at 215-895-3330 for questions, concerns, or support related to the crash.
You may also contact us at info@696rabblerousers.com.
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
As of January 27th, Donald Trump has fired the general counsel and one board member of the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB already had two of its five seats empty with no nominations from Biden or Trump; now it is effectively shut down. With only two members, the NLRB cannot adjudicate any cases.
Trump has also fired two members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces laws around workplace equality. The EEOC is still operational with two commissioners left, but it is no longer under Democratic majority control and is expected to roll back existing protections around gender and race.
Transitioning from a labor-friendly NLRB to a hostile one means that we cannot count on the support of the US Government. The new Labor Board will make it difficult for new unions to form, and for existing unions to continue to do business.
Now more than ever, we need to rely on each other, and our fellow unionized workers.
AFSCME SUES TRUMP ADMIN
AFSCME, along with the AFGE (American Federation of Government Employees), is suing for an injunction against the recent “Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce” executive order. The order strips job protections from career (i.e. hired, not politically appointed) civil servants who direct policy at federal agencies. The results of this will most directly affect federal employees, but we stand to lose at all levels if AFSCME is weakened and the president’s control over civil service is strengthened.
Local 696 Calendar for 2025
