Philadelphia faces lawsuit from union regarding full-time in-office work mandate for city employees

A labor union representing a large number of Philadelphia city workers has taken legal action to challenge Mayor Cherelle Parker’s directive requiring employees to return to their offices full time starting July 15. District Council 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, representing 6,000 administrative and supervisory staff, filed a lawsuit alleging that the mandate violates their contract and will negatively impact city workers. Additionally, the union lodged an unfair-practices complaint with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.
In May, Mayor Parker announced the decision to end the city’s virtual work policy implemented in 2021, aiming to establish a more visible and accessible government. This move essentially reinstates pre-pandemic employee scheduling. Approximately 80% of the city’s 26,000 employees have been working on-site full time since last year while the remaining staff have worked on-site for 31 to 75 hours per pay period. Under former Mayor Jim Kenney, hybrid work arrangements were left to the discretion of department heads.
The union strongly criticized the unilateral implementation of the full-time return policy, arguing that it should have been negotiated collectively. They fear that the new mandate will exacerbate the existing worker shortage in the city post-pandemic. Concerns were also raised about the inadequate office space to accommodate all employees and the challenge for parents with school-aged children in adjusting schedules during the summer period.
Mayor Parker, a member of the Democratic party, maintains that the new policy does not require negotiation through collective bargaining. She highlighted some worker-friendly changes, such as extending paid parental leave to eight weeks and designating the Friday after Thanksgiving as a holiday. Additionally, officials mentioned relaxed sick leave restrictions for caring for family members. While business leaders welcomed the decision, stating it would benefit workers and contribute to the liveliness of Philadelphia’s downtown area.