Lawsuit filed against Philadelphia for ordering full-time city employees to work in office

Unions representing thousands of Philadelphia city workers have filed a lawsuit seeking to block Democratic Mayor Cherelle Parker’s requirement that full-time city workers return to the office five days a week starting this month.

District Council 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees claims in a lawsuit filed Monday that the order violates its contract and will harm city employees, according to Reuters. The union, which represents 6,000 administrative and supervisory workers and negotiated remote work at the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020, also filed an unfair practice complaint with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.

Several local unions represented by District Council 47 filed a lawsuit against Parker Monday in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. The lawsuit asks the court to issue a temporary injunction blocking any work rules not negotiated with the union. The court will hold a hearing on that motion July 11, just days before city workers are set to return to the office.

Parker announced in May that hybrid work was ending and that city employees would be required to work in offices or on construction sites full time starting July 15. The mayor said working full time in offices would improve communication among employees and promote “social connectedness along with collaboration, innovation and inclusivity.”

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“Employees’ presence in the workplace enables more personal and productive interactions,” Parker said in her announcement. “It facilitates communication. It promotes social connection, as well as collaboration, innovation and integration.”

The mayor also announced more employee-friendly changes, including extending paid parental leave from six to eight weeks and making the Friday after Thanksgiving a day off.

Restrictions on using sick leave to care for family members will also be eased.

Most Philadelphia city workers have already returned to full-time, in-person work, but about 3,000 unionized workers have signed agreements with the city to work remotely at least one day a week since 2020, according to District Council 47.

The union also said the mayor’s office is refusing to negotiate on the change and is violating labor law and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

The city denies these accusations.

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The National Labor Relations Act and the Pennsylvania Public Employees Relations Act provide that employers must negotiate proposed changes in wages, hours, and conditions of employment with union representatives. Employers are required to negotiate with employees in good faith, both to reach an agreement and in situations of impasse.

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Parker’s office said it believes the rules do not apply to changes in work arrangements.

Unions said many workers who joined the city’s workforce from 2020 were told flexible working arrangements would remain indefinitely.

Reuters contributed to this report.