Posts tagged PHILADELPHIA
Union members at one Philadelphia hotel authorized a strike, as more could vote in the future too
September 24, 2025 // In addition to wage raises, the union is seeking improvements to healthcare benefits for dependents, worker pensions, and more robust staffing across hotels. The unionized employees include room attendants, cooks, servers, bartenders, dishwashers, and banquet staff at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square, the Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse Square, Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District, Hilton Garden Inn Philadelphia Center City, Hampton Inn Philadelphia Center City — Convention Center, Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel, and Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing.
Philly campaign consultant Tracy Hardy pleads guilty to $2M pandemic loan fraud, union hall scheme
September 16, 2025 // He also pleaded guilty on Thursday to his role in a scheme in which he created fake bids for a union hall bar renovation job in Manayunk for District 1199C, a local chapter of the National Union of Hospital and Healthcare Employees. This made it seem like his construction company, Manayunk Construction & Development Corp., offered the best price for the job even though he inflated the price by $45,000. As part of the federal court agreement, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office will drop state charges against Hardy related to the union hall matter, so his codefendant, Christen Woods, the former head of District 1199C, is expected to be charged alone.
Union president urges U.S. to halt deportation of workers born in Philadelphia.
September 8, 2025 // James A. Williams Jr., a Philadelphia native and president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, has embarked on a nationwide tour aimed at fostering solidarity among union members amidst heightened scrutiny and deportation efforts targeting immigrant workers. Williams is particularly vocal regarding the federal government’s decision to revoke legal protections for workers, many of whom are immigrants or descendants of immigrants.
Philly teachers union and school district reach tentative contract agreement
August 26, 2025 // The agreement, if approved by the union's 14,000 members, would end the possibility of a teachers strike, which members had voted to authorize earlier this summer. As negotiations continued between the two sides in recent weeks, teachers were beginning to make picket signs in preparation for a potential work stoppage.
Steelworkers President Michael Evanovich Faces Indictments
August 21, 2025 // Michael Evanovich, President of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1219, faces indictments for embezzlement and false reporting. From the Department of Labor:
Layoffs, frustrated public among concerns for union president ahead of SEPTA cuts
August 19, 2025 // "What I'm going to do is send a letter to Chief Bethel and the Chief of Transit Police and ask them, on the 24th, that they man our lines. It's going to be a frustrating time, and I'm worried that the backlash is going to come on my operators - and I'm not going to accept that," he said. Pollitt added that some union members are also concerned about potential layoffs. While workers with more than a year on the job are contractually protected, those with less than a year are not - a group he estimates includes more than 700 employees. However, SEPTA says there are no immediate plans for layoffs. "As we get started, there's no immediate plans for layoffs," said SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch.
THE BLUE DIVIDE
August 13, 2025 // The documents are an incomplete and opaque window into the finances for the Survivors’ Fund and Lodge 5, which are both 501(c) nonprofits. Another FOP nonprofit, the Home Association, operates the 7C Lounge, an expansive bar decorated in gleaming dark wood in the union’s 50,000-square-foot headquarters. A comprehensive financial picture of the nonprofits would be possible only by examining all credit card statements, receipts, and records. Those records are not publicly available, and even union members say FOP leaders have only allowed them to view a limited selection of documents.
Philadelphia teachers prepare for possible strike if a deal is not reached by Aug. 31
August 8, 2025 // The union is asking for an end to the school district's controversial sick leave policy, which it says punishes teachers for using sick days and requires them to meet with their principal after taking three days. The union also wants paid parental leave, extra pay for oversized classes and the restoration of school libraries. The union's president, Arthur Steinberg, said teachers don't want to go on strike, but the union, which represents nearly 14,000 teachers, is "not even close to working out a deal with the school district.
Commentary: Throwing out the garbage? Did you ask your local union first?
July 9, 2025 // The behavior of public-sector unions is enough to make you puke. This is true figuratively, when, as a matter of course, these groups bankrupt cities and states with unsustainable contract demands and tie the hands of elected officials to run the governments voters chose them to lead. But it was also true literally in Philadelphia, where an eight-day strike caused trash to pile up across the city.
Mayor Parker, unwavering in negotiations, dangles holiday pay incentive to end strike
July 6, 2025 // Though typically not part of a union negotiation that often includes wages, paid time off policies and health benefits, the Parker administration is trying to lump in dedicated low interest 30-year home mortgages for DC33 union members as part of their contract deal. The administration is also offering special dedicated access to all the home affordability programs she’s been spearheading.