Published: March 23, 2009

PHILADELPHIA. Union leaders for city workers continued their barrage of Mayor Michael Nutter’s proposed 2010 budget yesterday, describing a strike as probable later this year and calling the administration “anti-union.”

Herman “Pete” Matthews Jr. of District Council 33 and Cathy Scott of District Council 47 both described the possibility of a strike as a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10 in an appearance on NBC10 News @ Issue.

“I’d put it at a 7 or higher,” Scott said of the 3,300 white-collar city workers she represents walking off the job.

Both unions, which represent a combined 12,000-plus city employees, are expected to begin negotiations next month on new contracts with the city.

Another union leader, Wayne McManiman of SEIU Local 32BJ, said on the news program that Nutter’s approach is “anti-union.”

Nutter’s spokesman disputed the claim yesterday and said “shared sacrifice” was required by both sides.

“It’s a two-way street and everyone will have a role to play as we navigate through this financial crisis without a lot of ways to get there,” Nutter spokesman Doug Oliver said. “The city is not anti-union, period.”

Matthews said in an interview last week that he would seek a three-year deal instead of the one-year deal the unions agreed to last July and that DC 33 would agree to no more concessions than the last contract held.