Philadelphia City Workers Sue To Block Changes To 'DROP'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The largest Philadelphia municipal workers' union has filed a lawsuit against City Council's revisions of the lucrative pension program known as "DROP."
City Council two weeks ago overrode a veto by the mayor and gave final approval to a series of changes to DROP (see related story).
Mayor Nutter had wanted DROP abolished, but Council instead tweaked the terms of the program in an effort to make it less costly to taxpayers.
But now, District Council 33, the union representing blue-collar city workers, has gone to court to halt those revisions. Union attorney Sam Spear says any changes must be negotiated.
"They have the right to do it if it's agreed to by the union," Spear told KYW Newsradio. "It's like any other financial condition of our members' employment. It's just like salaries, it's like health care benefits, it's like any other economic item."
A spokesman for the mayor said he cannot comment on pending litigation. A spokesman for City Council president Anna Verna says she hasn't yet seen the lawsuit and cannot comment.
No hearing date was immediately set for the suit to be argued.
Reported by KYW City Hall bureau chief Mike Dunn
