Heard in the Hall

Union leader has no love for Nutter

Philadelphia City Hall and political coverage from the Philadelphia Inquirer City Hall bureau.

14 comments

Union leader has no love for Nutter

POSTED: Friday, May 8, 2009, 1:23 PM

Marcia Gelbart

So what was Pete Matthews really thinking when Mayor Nutter during his March budget speech took aim at the city’s four municipal union leaders, saying, “It’s time for leaders to lead, not follow the screaming masses?”

For the mayor to stand up there and insult the union leaders as he did was ridiculous. I have not spoken to the mayor since,” said Matthews, who leads AFSCME District Council 33, the city’s largest union with 7,200 members.

That was the some of the red-hot rhetoric that spilled from Matthews’ lips this morning as he testified before City Council on next year’s budget proposal. Whatever working relationship Matthews and the mayor had last year seems to have disintegrated — and it was a messsage Matthews was keen on communicating as the union’s contract ticks toward a June 30 expiration date.

With the Council chamber, including both balconies, filled with howling DC 33 workers, Matthews recounted a phone call he received from Nutter that March day, informing him — just 20 minutes before he would reveal it publicly — that in a new pact he would seek salary freezes, reduced holidays, pension changes and lower city contributions to the union health plans.

He also said, "I don't understand where the mayor is coming from. Maybe one of these days he'll start speaking to me again and explain."

Alternatively, Matthews said the administration has not tried enough to reduce costs by eliminating unnecessary outside contracts. He detailed four areas in which he believes dollars can be saved: in the Water Department, Fleet Management, the airport and the city solicitor’s office.

At least one Councilmember heard his cry. Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. said he was surprised that the mayor’s Private Sector Task Force, according to Matthews, had not reached out to the union to discuss these outside contracts, or anything.

“Blue-collar workers who do something everyday should be listened to,” Jones said. “It doesn’t always take a Wharton grad to figure out where cost savings are.”

Click here for Philly.com's politics page.

14 comments

Previous Story: Election officials won't post online primary election results

Next Story: Mayor and Council agree for now: No property tax hike

Comments (14)

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:14 PM, 05/08/2009

Organized Labor = Organized Crime..... If you cannot get concessions from them, fire them all!!!!

— Mike S.

Comment removed.

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:10 PM, 05/08/2009

“I consider that underhanded and low,” Matthews said of the short notice. “This is what I said to the mayor: You have hell on your hands if you think we are going to make one more concession.” One more concession? When the hell did DC33 ever make ANY concession??!! Terminate/layoff/ half of these bums of DC33 and watch how fast the other working half start to "concede". Not like anyone will miss them...and the same goes for the other union, DC47 I think they are known as?

— KG071

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:42 PM, 05/08/2009

Yeah, hire more like Milton Street's outfit, they were nonunion.

— Mark Chalupa

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:25 PM, 05/08/2009

"With the Council chamber, including both balconies, filled with howling DC 33 workers" - what no work?; Matthews said of the short notice. “...You have hell on your hands if you think we are going to make one more concession.” - what is the other option drive the remaining taxpayers, who are too ignorant to move out of East Detroit, broke? Matthews also said, "...Maybe one of these days he'll start speaking to me again and explain." - sounds like a little kid fighting with his friends instead of a supervisor.

— give me liberty or death

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:49 AM, 05/09/2009

Yeah Pete? for now, but you'll be kissing his arse again, and soon.

— FJG JR

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:40 AM, 05/09/2009

The time of reckoning is at hand. This conflict, between disconnected union leadership and a heavy handed administration was set in motion with the election of Nutter in 2007. Throughout his time in City council, he made his distrust / disdain for DC 33 & 47 well known. The unions know that they have no friend in Nutter. This dynamic will, without a doubt, lead to a work stoppage which will cost the City and its workers dearly. That being said, this idea that outside contractors are somehow more efficient and prudent than City workers is a misnomer. Remember, this is Philadelphia and the contractors which will be brought in are also connected. Look at the boondoggle which is the 411 system. Boatloads of money spent on a system which does nothing to address the fundamental problems with City government. The unfortunate thing is that there are good and hardworking people in municipal jobs. Pete Matthews does then no favor through his antics. The mayor needs to show leadership here, not just punitive cuts and reduction in services, designed to make both the unions and taxpayers miserable. He needs to reorganize and right-size city agencies. If that message were conveyed to DC 33 & 47, maybe some progress could be made. But as long as the irresistible force (Nutter) is determined to meet the immovable object (Matthews) city employees and taxpayers will suffer the consequences.

— Main-st-atty

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:11 PM, 05/09/2009

Local #33 is full of parasites and greedheads. Privatize their jobs. They get paid too much for way to little.

— joedog

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:04 PM, 05/10/2009

Yeah fire them all. Then we can privatize and pay some connected fat cats to do the work. Then they can pay some illegal immigrants ten bucks an hour while they get rich. The rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer. Whats wrong with paying city employees decent wages? Most city workers are conscientious and do good jobs. The problem is that its so hard to get rid of dead wood. Maybe the mayor should look at getting rid of some of the high priced "deputy mayors" and consultants. Where's the investigative reporting about how many of those we have now compared to how many the city used to have. These clowns are making 100k a year telling the mayor and the media to get tough on the people actually doing the work.

— rizzocrat

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:55 AM, 05/11/2009

I concur !! FIRE THEM ALL !!! There are plenty of folks in this City that would gladly take those jobs at the Mayor's suggested salary and benefeits. Isn't that what FREE ENTERPRISE is all about ? If you can find someone willing to do the job at a more reasonable cost to the City, then let them do it and stop whining.

— hammer 60