by KYW’s Pat Loeb
The union that represents professional city workers in Philadelphia has authorized a strike if negotiators don't reach an agreement in the next two weeks.
Nearly a thousand members of District Council 47 voted unanimously to authorize a walk-out, just one day after the union agreed to continue working under the old contract until July 15th. President Cathy Scott says she'd like to avoid a walk out, but is dissatisfied with the pace of negotiations:
“We thought that it was important that the membership send a message to the city administration that they want a contract and they want it done now.”
Scott says the union is unhappy that no talks are scheduled until next Monday:
“These are very serious issues that we're talking about -- health care, pension -- and we think holiday or no holiday, we should be talking every day until we can get this resolved.”
Mayor Michael Nutter's office declined to comment on the strike vote but a spokeswoman said the two sides are still in active, ongoing negotiations and the city hopes they'll be fruitful. The city is also still talking to District Council 33, which represents blue collar city workers. Police and fire contracts are subject to binding negotiation.
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