Kenney already talking to Philly unions about new contracts

Philadelphia’s mayor-elect says he aims to achieve labor harmony in the city. 

Even though he won’t take the oath of office until January, Jim Kenney said Tuesday that he and his people have been talking with the city’s blue- and white-collar workers.

“Informal, certainly I have no ability to have formal discussions,” he said. “I think the sooner we meet and discuss and understand and bargain — remember that word, bargain — collectively, we get where we want to be.”

Kenney said he is hoping to have contracts with the unions that represent everyone from trash collectors to office workers before their current pacts expire.

“We are working hard to be fair to our employees, to have a fair contract and get them done on time,” he said.

Kenney is vehement about the importance of unions, saying there wouldn’t be a need to have a minimum wage if everyone bargained collectively.