Thousands of Philadelphia city workers back in office full-time after judge dismisses lawsuit

Thousands of Philadelphia city workers are back in their offices full time after a judge rejected a union’s request to block Mayor Cherelle Parker’s demand for their return.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 47 filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming the move violates its contract and would harm city workers. The union, which represents 6,000 administrative and supervisory employees, also filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, which is still pending.

A two-day hearing last week on the lawsuit concluded with the judge ruling Friday night that the city could impose the mandate, so workers had to return to the office Monday.

Parker announced the mandate in May, saying she wanted to create a more visible and accessible government. The move ended the city’s virtual work policy, implemented in 2021, and essentially returns employees’ schedules to what they were before the coronavirus pandemic.

About 80% of the city’s 26,000 employees have been working full-time on-site since last year, while the rest work between 31 and 75 hours per pay period, Parker said. Former Mayor Jim Kenney had left decisions about hybrid work to department heads.

The union strongly criticized the decision when it was announced, saying it was imposed unilaterally instead of through collective bargaining. It also believes the policy will worsen the labor shortage the city has suffered since the pandemic.

She also argues that the city does not have enough office space to bring back all the employees and that making the change during the summer, when children are out of school, complicates parents’ schedules.

Parker, a Democrat, said her administration does not believe the new policy is subject to collective bargaining. She also pointed to changes made to be more favorable to workers, such as extending paid parental leave from six to eight weeks and designating the Friday after Thanksgiving as a holiday. Officials also said restrictions on sick leave to care for family members would be eased.

Business leaders welcomed the announcement, saying it would benefit workers and the vibrancy of downtown Philadelphia.