White-collar workers sue to stop Philly back-to-office rule [Video]

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The union representing Philadelphia’s white-collar city workers is suing Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration over its return-to-office mandate.

Parker ordered all 26,000 employees back to their offices full-time beginning July 15, including the 20% who are still remote or hybrid. But District Council 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees says the mayor doesn’t have the power to do that unilaterally, that it must be negotiated.

“We’ve always bargained it,” said April Gigetts, union president.

“We’ve met with the city. We’ve met with the [Department of Labor] and, based on their operational needs, we have come to an agreement around what kind of hybrid work that particular department will do.”

District Council 47 filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Its suit asks the court not to let the city impose the policy until the grievance is decided.

“We need that to be heard at the arbitration and a decision to be made around whether …