Philadelphia judge denies union's request to delay Mayor Cherelle Parker's return-to-office policy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A Philadelphia judge denied a union's request to block Mayor Cherelle Parker's mandate for city workers to return to the office full-time starting Monday, July 15.
Judge Sierra Thomas-Street issued her ruling Friday evening turning down a plea from AFSCME District Council 47.
This comes after two days of lengthy testimony from remote workers and city officials.
Union leaders said the return to office order needs to be bargained with them. The city argued it is a change in location, something that's a management right and doesn't need to be bargained.
Ultimately, the judge said attorneys for the union did not meet the bar to show irreparable harm. Union leaders said they're disappointed and believe many workers will look for new jobs but for now, they expect members to be at work Monday.
Meanwhile, city officials believe this move will help residents.
Union leaders said their fight isn't over. They have requested an expedited arbitration to look into whether this is something that needs to be bargained.
"We're very disappointed with the judge's decision," said April Gigetts, president of AFSCME District Council 47. "We're disappointed she did not see the harm this is going to cause our members."
"Mayor Parker promised the city that they would have a government that can see touch and feel," said Camille Duchaussee, chief administrative officer of the city of Philadelphia. "Today's decision I think is a giant step towards realizing those promises."
Mayor Parker released a statement later on Friday of the ruling. The statement reads:
"I promised the City that they would have a government they could see, touch and feel. I promised to make our City the safest, cleanest and greenest big city in America, with access to economic opportunity for all. This ruling gets our city one giant step closer to delivering on that promise. I want every member of our workforce to know: I'm a pro-Union, pro-worker Mayor, and I thank you for all your service every day to make Philadelphia better."
Union representatives with Local 2186 said the Parker Administration failed to follow through on promises made in a May 20 email sent to city workers where she announced her decision for them to return full-time.
"She included that they were going to give child care, elder care, day after Thanksgiving as a holiday among other things," said Brett Bessler, vice president of Afscme Local 2186.
"On Monday, what are people supposed to do?" said Gennifer Reed, president of Afscme Local 2186. "They have schedules they have been in for some for almost four years and they don't have what they need. But the mayor promised that she was going to provide that and that's not been done."
While CBS News Philadelphia has not been given an exact time lime of when these benefits will go into effect, the city said they are working with union lawyers.
"We will take whatever issues that may arise particularly around the ADA accommodations and all the things that we've seen and the ways this has impacted our members, we'll take that up as it comes up," said Gigetts. "But they absolutely have to report to work on Monday."
Mayor Parker hopes the city's decision will set a standard for private companies to return workers in person full-time in downtown offices. The union said they plan to appeal.