by KYW's Mike Dunn

Mayor Nutter's first big battle in office could be one that Mayor Street fought and lost.  Nutter has revived Street's plan for a new waste treatment plant that the largest city workers union opposes.

The blue-collar workers union, District Council 33, successfully lobbied City Council last year to stop John Street's plan for a new Biosolids plant in South Philadelphia.

Mayor Nutter, though, sent the plan again to City Council on Thursday.  Its a project he says will help the city even if the unions oppose it.  

"I am certainly always prepared to work with our great public servants (in DC 33).  At the same, there are broad city wide benefits (from the project) that could come to the city as a result."

Those benefits, the Mayor contends, include millions of dollars in savings, and a less smelly waste treatment plant than the current one near the Platt bridge.

A union official says DC 33 remains opposed, but are willing to talk with the Mayor about it. The union believes the plant will result in some workers losing jobs.

Nutter's legislation is expected to be debated in committee before Council leaves for the summer, and at that point expect union members to turn out in full force.

This battle comes as Nutter prepares to negotiate with DC 33 and the three other municipal worker unions on new contracts that are to begin July 1.