Upper Darby municipal workers voted unanimously on Monday to go on strike, possibly starting New Year’s Day, if they can’t get a new contract, writes Pete Bannon for the Daily Times.
The strike was authorized by more than 100 workers represented by AFL-CIO Transport Workers Union 234.
Affected services would include garbage collection, snow removal, street and highway maintenance, sewer and drainage system maintenance, police and township vehicle repairs, street lighting and animal control.
A news release from union officials said a new contract proposal from the township included reducing the workforce, tripling worker healthcare costs, eliminating job titles, and removing seniority rights.
Those claims were disputed by Upper Darby Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones, who said there were no plans to reduce the workforce or undermine seniority.
“Our priority remains balancing the needs of our employees with the financial responsibility we owe to taxpayers,” Jones said.
A key township objective is to create a cost-sharing agreement for the health plan. Right now, the township covers 96.5 percent of health costs, “making it one of the most generous plans available to employees, but also one of the most expensive for taxpayers,” he said.
Find out more about the strike authorization and contract proposals in the Daily Times.
COVID caused a trash pile up in Upper Darby four years ago.
