Striking city workers are joining picket lines outside Philadelphia City Hall, public libraries and other worksites as nearly 10,000 unionized employees walked off the job in search of better pay and benefits.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nearly 10,000 city workers in Philadelphia who collect trash, answer 911 calls, maintain city pools and perform other jobs went on strike Tuesday after contract negotiations broke down. District Council 33 President Greg Boulware said the city hadn’t agreed to a high enough wage increase, WPVI-TV reported.

More than 9,000 city employees are on strike after contract talks fell apart between AFSCME District Council 33 and Mayor Parker’s administration, the first major city worker strike since 1986.