PHOTOS: Unions rally against Mayor Michael Nutter at City Hall

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Rikard Larma/Metro.

Representatives of nearly all of Philadelphia’s unions – both municipal and trades – gathered outside City Hall today to protest what they say is Mayor Michael Nutter’s “blatant union busting agenda.”

Since taking office in 2008, Nutter hasn’t negotiated a single union contract outside of awards won through the legally binding third party arbitration process mandated by state law. Many municipal employees haven’t received raises or benefit increases in four to five years.

“The walls are starting to close in on him,” said John Dougherty, business manager for electricians union Local 98, one of the many Building Trades unions that came out in a show of solidarity with city workers.

“There’s only one way out, and that’s for him to step up, do the right thing, negotiate and pay the wages owed.”