SEPTA, union reach tentative one-year agreement

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and Transport Workers Union Local 234 late last week reached a tentative agreement on a one-year contract, averting a potential strike.

The agreement will be finalized pending ratification by SEPTA's board and union members. Local 234 represents 5,000 Philadelphia transit workers on SEPTA's subways, buses and trolleys.

Union members had authorized a strike if an agreement with the regional transit authority had not been reached by Oct. 31.

"I am very pleased that we were able to settle an agreement without a strike. We made substantial gains in wages and benefits and secured improvements in other areas important to our members that also will help the transit system retain and recruit skilled workers," said TWU Local 234 President Brian Pollitt in a press release.

However, the contract — which would expire in November 2024 — "is essentially a work in progress," Pollitt said.

"Many of our concerns related to safety and security will need to be addressed in later agreements," he added.

Negotiations were focused on finding a way to recognize employees’ hard work and ensure that SEPTA is in the best possible position to build ridership, and address a looming fiscal cliff when federal COVID relief funds run out next year, SEPTA officials said in a press release.

"SEPTA's frontline employees keep our system running every day, and this contract reflects their dedication," said SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie Richards. "There was an urgency to get this agreement in place, and I would like to thank the negotiating teams on both sides of the table for working around the clock to make it happen."