Deal reached to end DC33 strike in Philadelphia; trash collection resumes Monday

A Philadelphia court is ordering striking medical examiner's office employees back on the job as the blue-collar workers' walkout continues.

The city sought the order, saying the office was experiencing delays in picking up the bodies of the deceased.

Workers were expected to report for duty starting with the 3 p.m. shift on Thursday.

An example of the problem could be seen on Thursday morning in Germantown. A 19-year-old man died after being shot at 5:47 a.m. but, many hours later, his body was still lying in the street.

Chief Medical Examiner Lindsay Simon said in a court document that unrecovered bodies present a potential risk to public health.

There were also concerns about a delay in bodies being released from the morgue to grieving families, Simon wrote.

She went on to write that the morgue was already over capacity as of late Tuesday morning, just hours after the strike began.

City employees redirected from other departments have been filling in, but they were unable to keep up with the volume "as they lack the specialized certification and access to security sensitive software."

Mountains of trash are piling up in parts of Philadelphia as a strike by blue-collar city workers nears a fourth day.

Sanitation workers are among the DC33 union members on the picket line, which means residential trash collection stopped when the strike was called at midnight Tuesday.

Chopper 6 was over a massive mound of garbage along Devereaux Avenue near Langdon Street in Northeast Philadelphia.

The city has set up dozens of trash collection sites, including this location.

The Action Cam was at an official trash collection site at the 63rd Street Sanitation Center, where things were quiet on Thursday.

RELATED: Trash pickup halted in Philadelphia during blue-collar union workers' strike | What to know

Residents were seen dropping off their trash without any issues.

It was a different scene on Wednesday when police responded after workers on strike reportedly blocked other city employees from entering.

This happened after a judge ordered picketers not to block access to buildings or facilities.

Negotiations between the City of Philadelphia and striking members of AFSCME District Council 33 broke apart overnight without a deal.

That means the strike will continue into a third day on Thursday.

Negotiations between the City of Philadelphia and members of the blue-collar workers' union, AFSCME District Council 33, are expected to continue on Thursday.

Approximately 9,000 members walked off the job just after midnight Tuesday.

The union represents many of the city's blue-collar workers, from trash collectors to clerks to security guards.

The city has suspended residential trash collection, closed some city pools and libraries and shortened recreation center hours.

Mayor Cherelle Parker has vowed to keep the city running and not disturb the Fourth of July celebrations already underway in the nation's birthplace.

City officials in Philadelphia have issued a warning to members striking with DC 33 that any acts of vandalism and harassment must stop.

City Solicitor Renee Garcia said some union members have jammed locks, slashed tires, and prevented employees from entering buildings.

Philly officials issue warning as strike tensions escalate: 'This is not legal activity'

"They were harassing our employees, harassing our residents, blocking access to health centers, to libraries, to recreation centers, to sanitation centers across the city, to our water facilities," said Garcia during a news conference on Wednesday.

Philadelphia police announced the arrest of 59-year-old Carnell Wilder, who allegedly approached a PGW worker who was operating a digger loader and asked, "Why aren't you striking?"

He then proceeded to stab the rear left tire of the loader with a knife, causing it to deflate, according to police.

Since the strike began, Garcia said, residents have been harassed while dropping off trash. At one water facility, it's alleged that striking members blocked trucks from delivering chemicals for water facilities.

"At one location where we had water, where we had employees locked inside, they shut off the water to this building from the outside and then parked their car over the valve," said Garcia.

"This is not legal activity. This is in violation of injunctions. It needs to stop," she added.

On Wednesday night, Philadelphia sheriff's deputies and police were called in to intercept interference.

Picketers were told to move as deputies waved through a caravan of sanitation trucks at the 63rd Street Sanitation Center.

A Philadelphia judge has mandated that picketers not block access to buildings or facilities, including places like health centers and water treatment plants. It was one of three injunctions filed by the city in connection with the strike.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel warned that action would be taken against anyone engaging in any actions of vandalism.

"We will continue to look through those activities and ensure that people are in compliance," he said.

In a statement, AFSCME D.C.33 said, "We implore all members to strictly adhere to these court-ordered rules that have been imposed. Compliance is not only a legal obligation but also essential to ensure the safety and integrity of our collective actions. By following these injunctions, we uphold the principles of lawful protest and demonstrate our commitment to responsible activism."

The union and the city returned to the negotiating table Wednesday. A deal has not yet been reached.