The union wants the city to follow a recent arbitration award.
Officials say that decision was illegal.
The fight over millions of dollars in health benefits and raises for Philadelphia firefighters landed in court yesterday, with firefighters demanding that the city pay and city administrators arguing that a recent arbitration award was illegal. Both sides filed legal documents and appeared before Common Pleas Court Judge Esther R. Sylvester, asking her to weigh in. We believe we got a fair contract, and the city is not abiding by it. The 2,400 firefighters and paramedics have worked without a contract since July 1. Last month, an arbitration panel issued an award that pleased firefighters but caused city officials concern.