Philadelphia city workers, represented by AFSCME District Council 47, are suing Mayor Cherelle Parker to stop the new rule requiring them to return to the office full-time by July 15, 2024.
Key Takeaways:
- Mayor Cherelle Parker says all city employees must work in the office starting July 15, 2024.
- AFSCME District Council 47 is fighting this rule in court, saying it breaks their contract and harms workers.
- Workers believe the rule will make staffing shortages worse, there isn’t enough office space, and it disrupts family schedules.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Unions Sue Mayor Over Mandatory Office Return
A group of unions representing many Philadelphia city workers is suing Mayor Cherelle Parker over her new rule. This rule, announced in May, requires all city employees to return to the office by July 15, 2024. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County.
Mayor Parker believes having employees in the office improves communication, social connections, and teamwork.
She said, “Employee presence at the workplace allows for more personal and productive interactions,” which helps create a fair and inclusive work environment.
AFSCME District Council 47 Challenges Office Return Rule
AFSCME District Council 47, which includes nine local unions, is leading the fight against this new rule.
In a video, David Wilson, President of AFSCME District Council 47 and Local 2187, stated that deciding on work schedules should involve negotiations. He stressed the importance of talking with past city leaders to improve city government.
Union leaders argue that many members have adjusted to flexible work schedules during the pandemic, improving their work-life balance.
In a March interview with CBS News Philadelphia, Wilson mentioned that many union members are not ready to give up this flexibility.
Union Lawsuit Claims Office Return Rule Violates Contract
The union’s lawsuit claims Mayor Parker’s rule breaks their contract and harms workers. They also filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.
Union leaders say the rule was forced on them without proper negotiations and will worsen the city’s worker shortage, a problem since the pandemic.
They also argue there isn’t enough office space for everyone to return full-time, and changing the schedule in the summer complicates things for parents with children out of school.
Business Leaders Support Office Return
Business leaders in Philadelphia support the office return rule, thinking it will help workers and make downtown Philadelphia more lively.
However, city workers are split. Some see the need for in-person work to better serve the public, while others worry about the need and practicality of returning full-time.
Mayor Parker’s team says the new rule doesn’t need to be negotiated with the union. Parker respects the city workers despite the legal challenge but believes the office return is important for an open and effective government.
Legal Battle Highlights Office Return Challenges
The union is waiting for the city’s response and a court date to sort out the disagreement.
Mayor Parker said the city’s lawyers will review the lawsuit and respond, but her position on the office return rule hasn’t changed.
This legal fight shows the challenges of moving back to pre-pandemic work setups and the different views on what makes a fair and effective work policy today.
The union hopes to convince the judge that their concerns about the return-to-office mandate are valid and that no one should be forced back into the office until the issue is fully resolved through proper channels.
Meanwhile, city workers continue to voice their opinions for and against the policy.
