by KYW's Pat Loeb
About a thousand Philadelphia city employees demonstrated at City Hall on Thursday evening -- less than two weeks before their contract expires.
District Council 47 president Cathy Scott was one of the speakers who told workers to brace for a fight in contract negotiations with the city. Mayor Nutter has signaled his plan to reduce labor costs by introducing legislation for a two-tiered pension system.
District Council 33 president Pete Matthews says the unions won't take that proposal lying down:
"When you go to war, you have casualties, you're in for a fight."
Matthews sent workers across the street to city hall, choking traffic during the evening rush. Water department employee Name Mathis says he hopes the city gets the message:
"I think it demonstrated unity between all the unions, all those hard-working people of the city of Philadelphia, who pay taxes."
City officials could not be reached for comment but said earlier they're preparing for the possibility of a strike.
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