*This post will continue to be updated as new information becomes available. Check back frequently* 

As you may have noticed, our city is currently facing a work stoppage related to ongoing AFSCME District Council 33 (DC33) contract negotiations. The members decided to strike at midnight on Monday, June 30, 2025, immediately impacting some City services. This situation is important for all of us, and we want to ensure you have the essential information you need.

The City is also proactively monitoring the situation and will compile the most up-to-date resources on this blog post. Check back often for the latest.  

Impacts on city services 

During a work stoppage, you may experience changes or delays in several essential services. Here’s a brief overview of what might be affected: 

Emergency services 

911

911 call centers remain open and operators are there to take your calls. Wait times may be longer than usual service; don’t hang up – someone will answer and you’ll get a response. 

Philadelphia Fire Department

The Fire Department continues to respond to fire-related and emergency medical incidents 24x7x365. The Fire Communications Center (FCC) is staffed with a combination of uniformed members and officers plus non-uniformed managers who will collectively take 911 calls and dispatch apparatus. PFD managers who are not part of DC33 has reassigned administrative duties as needed, so our Fire Marshal’s Office will continue to investigate fires and the cadets at the Fire Academy (firefighter, EMT and paramedic) will continue their training.

FCC: We are training qualified PFD members to learn the newly upgraded CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) to take calls and dispatch apparatus and they will staff the FCC 24x7x365 so citizens will still receive the dedicated service they’ve come to expect. Our supervisors in the FCC are not part of DC33 and will remain on site to ensure a smooth process.   

 Managers and department leaders are trained to fulfill duties for their units and will continue to process payroll, member needs, and other urgent requests.   

Customer Service 

 There could be longer wait times for responses to non-emergency inquiries, including permits and public records. 

Philly 311

Philly311 will implement an outgoing message informing callers that we are currently experiencing high call volumes. The message will also provide alternative methods for submitting inquiries.

Philly311 exempt staff will be handling incoming calls, as well as all inquiries received through our non-call channels of communication.

Stay Informed

It’s crucial to stay informed during this time. The City is committed to keeping residents updated, so please continue to:

  • For officials updates continue to check back to this blog for future updates
  • Tune in to local news for updates on impact
  • For the latest updates from the City, follow @PhilaOEM on X (Twitter) or Facebook.
  • Other City X (Twitter) accounts to follow for developments, response, and service information: @PhiladelphiaGov, @PhilaStreets.
  •  follow official city social media channel, the City’s website, the City’s free text alert system, ReadyPhiladelphia, and local media updates regarding service availability and any changes due to potential disruptions. You can get official ReadyAlerts updates from the Office of Emergency Management to your phone by texting READYPHILA to 888-777.

Sanitation services 

The Department of Sanitation would operate on in a modified capacity. There will be no residential collection of trash or recycling effective Tuesday, July 1.  Please check regularly for updates regarding service schedules. Find the nearest drop off location for trash here. Please read the map instructions carefully. 

The following locations will be available for residents to drop off trash and recycling for disposal:  

  • Six Sanitation drop-off centers (open 6 a.m. through 10 p.m.) Sunday through Saturday.  
  • Drop off locations will be available for usage beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, and for the remainder of the week they will be open at 6 a.m.   
  • Details will be posted on phila.gov/sanitation.    
  • Drop off locations will not be available on Friday, July 4 due to the holiday. Sanitation Convenience Centers will also be closed.  
  • Residents are asked to bring their materials to drop off sites on their normal trash day.   
  • The City will continue to monitor these locations. If the work stoppage lingers and reaches capacity, the City will be expanding to additional locations.   
  • The City will monitor the sites to ensure there are enough dumpsters at each site.  
  • The City will have personnel on hand to assist with trash collection at designated locations.  
  • Sanitation regulations remain:   
  • Bagged trash only (up to eight bags of trash).   
  • No loose trash.  

Recycling

  • Recyclable materials will only be accepted at the six Sanitation Convenience Centers.  
  • Please hold recycling materials as long as possible as trash is the priority due to health and safety concerns. 

Philadelphia Department of Public Health

The Health Department will strive to offer full services in the event of a work stoppage. Health center services will be dependent upon staffing levels and may change from day-to-day and from center to center. However, some services at the Health Centers, including lab, mammography, and x-ray, will not be offered at the health centers, and patients will be referred out to partner health institutions that have that capacity. We will be notifying patients prior to their appointment if there is any change, including if the appointment is cancelled or changed from in-person to virtual.  

Water Department

The Philadelphia Water Department is well prepared to continue providing essential water and wastewater services during the current AFSCME District Council 33 strike. Our priority is always to ensure Philadelphia residents’ drinking water remains safe to drink. If there are any changes to the safety of the drinking water, PWD will communicate the change through ReadyNotify and all media channels. 

In preparation for this workforce reduction and any emergency, PWD provided cross-training to non-DC33 staff to perform essential operational functions at the City’s three drinking water treatment plants, three sewage treatment plants, and other key facilities. To ensure continuity of operations, staff are now housed at these facilities 24-hours a day and are assigned to work 12-hour shifts.  

Furthermore, the Department has been monitoring sites to ensure that chemical deliveries and other services continue. Staff from PWD’s Water Treatment Plants and Bureau of Laboratory Services have continued water quality monitoring within the drinking water treatment plants and throughout the distribution system. 

Parts of our core service delivery may be impacted by reduced staffing. Some customers could experience service impacts including longer response and repair times (for example – water main breaks, street cave-ins, open hydrants, clogged inlets). During a strike and any city emergency, repairs will be prioritized according to severity of impact and available resources.   

Again, safety is PWD’s top priority and the city’s drinking water remains safe to drink.  Residents can continue to report water emergencies through our hotline at 215-685-6300.  Response times may be longer than our normal service and we will need to prioritize by urgency level.   

In addition, customers should use self-service options for bill payment and general account information. Go to MyPhillywaterBill [https://phila.gov/waterbill] to view account information and make payments. Self-service account information and payment options are also available by calling 215-685-6300 and following the prompts in the main menu. 

Permitting and Construction Projects: Water and sewer connection permit requests should follow the instructions posted on the Water Department website: https://water.phila.gov/development/connections/permits/. The permit desk at Municipal Services Building (MSB) may be impacted by reduced staff levels. Most planned construction projects will stop until staffing levels return to normal.  

Meter Appointments: During a strike, only urgent meter work will be performed, such as repairing or replacing damaged or leaking meters. No new meter appointments will be made during a reduced staffing situation. Customers with existing appointments may receive cancelation calls and an option to reschedule.  

Parks and Recreation 

Programs and facilities maybe operate on a limited basis, so keep an eye on announcements for specific closures.  

  • 24 pools will be open; full aquatics programming will not be available.  All 112 spray grounds will still operate.
  • Rec Centers- No evening programs or extended-hour services will be offered. Hours during a strike will be 9-5 instead of 9 am – 9 pm.
  • Summer day camps will continue to operate but may be scaled back depending on staffing.
  • Cooling centers will remain open, prioritizing public health needs.
  • Permitted special events may face delays or cancellations if they require plumbing/electrical work.
  • Park gate access will be selectively prioritized by Rangers.
  • High-profile events such as the Welcome America Concert and Philadelphia Youth Regatta will proceed with modified staffing plans.

Free Library of Philadelphia  

Cooling centers will be a priority with hiring outside security and limited services inside the building.  

We are attempting to keep open these libraries. As of July 1, all libraries are all currently closed due to picketing activities. We are waiting for injunctions. Please check back for updates.  

  • Parkway Central (limited access to 5 departments) 
  • Northeast Regional 
  • Blackwell Regional 
  • Cecil B. Moore 
  • Donatucci 
  • Frankford 
  • Haverford 
  • Katharine Drexel 
  • Kensington 
  • Kingsessing 
  • Logan 
  • Nicetown-Tioga 
  • Rodriguez 
  • South Philadelphia 
  • Widener 

Philadelphia Department of Streets

The Department of Streets will maintain appropriate levels of staffing and resources to ensure traffic signals, traffic signs, roadways, bridges and city-wide street lighting provide safe egress for multi-modal traffic, particularly on high traffic volume routes throughout the city. Work performed will focus on “make-safe” operations and emergency repairs for conditions and problems affecting traffic safety or impediments to the movement of traffic. In addition, Streets will continue to coordinate crossing guard coverage for schools currently receiving crossing guard services during the summer months. 

“Make-safe” operations can include inspection, barricades or partial closures, relocation of damaged traffic infrastructure, temporary electrical repairs, or temporary signage. 

Please continue to report damage to traffic infrastructure or unsafe roadway conditions to 311. Any emergency reports, such as a non-working traffic control devices should be reported to 911. 

  • Potholes, ditches, cave-ins – Streets will respond and make-safe as necessary  
  • Milling and Paving – Street resurfacing is not an essential service 
  • Traffic Signals – Streets will respond to perform emergency repairs and make-safe 
  • Traffic Intersection Control Signs – Streets will respond to repair 
  • Streetlight and Alley light Repairs – will continue to be done by contractor, along with maintenance response 
  • Streetlight Pole Knockdowns – Streets will perform emergency make-safe repairs for knockdown street light poles 
  • Bridge Monitoring and Assessment – Streets will monitor City bridges and identify any potentially dangerous conditions 
  • Roadway Monitoring and Assessment – Streets will monitor City roadway structures and identify any potentially dangerous conditions 
  • School Crossing Guard and Public Traffic Safety Enforcement Programs – Streets will coordinate the continued staffing of intersections around schools currently receiving crossing guard services for summer programing. Schools and intersections near the Vision Zero High Injury Network will be prioritized. 

Airports 

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) remains fully operational, with airlines, concessions, and federal security personnel continuing to serve travelers, as they are not represented by DC 33 staff. However, the ongoing work stoppage does impact certain teams at PHL, including custodial, facilities, and maintenance services. To address staffing shortages, the airport will temporarily utilize non-DC 33 employees, who are not engaged in critical or emergency work, as well as contracted workers to ensure that operations run smoothly during this period. Travelers can feel confident that PHL is committed to maintaining high service levels despite these challenges. 

Philadelphia Department of Revenue 

The Department of Revenue continues to provide its full array of services, with modifications, at the Municipal Services Building (MSB). The Northeast and North Philadelphia satellite offices are currently closed to the public.

The Department encourages customers to make payments electronically when possible. Customers who must pay in person can submit payment in the form of money order or checks in the locked drop-boxes at the MSB. Cash payments cannot be accepted at this time.

The Department continues to process tax returns, assistance program applications, and refunds, but there may be processing delays. Revenue’s call center remains operational. However, a reduced staff is answering calls, so wait times may be higher than usual. Rather than waiting on the phone, taxpayers can visit Revenue’s online Philadelphia Tax Center at https://tax-services.phila.gov/.

Through the Tax Center, you can file tax returns, search for account balances, and even make your own payment agreements if you can’t pay on time. Taxpayers can also pay Real Estate Tax by phone by calling (833) 913-0795. 

Water customers can pay their bills online at www.phila.gov/waterbill/. To pay water bills by phone with an automated system, customers can call (877) 309-3709. 

4th of July Celebrations

Our partners at Wawa Welcome America have curated an incredible lineup of events to commemorate the birth of our nation, with celebrations that began on Juneteenth and will culminate with the signature July 4th festivities.

The City is working closely with event organizers, public safety officials, and external partners to ensure that beloved events like POPS on Independence, the Celebration of Freedom Ceremony, the Salute to Independence Parade, and the iconic July 4th Concert and Fireworks can go on as scheduled safely and successfully.

For the full schedule of Wawa Welcome America events, visit july4thphilly.com

Scheduled road closures, SEPTA detours, and other information related to July 4th festivities will be announced in a forthcoming press release.

What you can do 

Be proactive in your awareness. If you have specific concerns about how the work stoppage might affect you or your neighborhood, consider reaching out to your local representatives. They are available to answer questions and assist you as needed.  

Moving forward 

Both the City officials and union representatives are working diligently to resolve these negotiations. The aim is to reach an agreement that supports both our city employees and the services they provide to our community. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this situation together. Your cooperation is appreciated, and we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
 

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