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Last weekend, members of United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 1594 ratified a four-year agreement with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).

The contract replaces an agreement that expired in April 2004 and was extended until April 2005. UTU and SEPTA extended the agreement two more times before the union launched a week-long strike against the authority on Oct. 31.

The contract provides UTU-represented workers — which operate trolleys, buses and the Norristown high-speed line on SEPTA’s Suburban Division — an annual 3 percent wage increase, maintains health and welfare benefits with a minimal co-pay increase, and improves pension plans and life insurance benefits.