SEPTA Workers Vote to Authorize Strike Amid Contract Negotiations

Members of the Transport Workers Union Local 234, which represents approximately 5,000 workers for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), voted on Sunday to authorize a strike during ongoing contract negotiations. The union seeks a two-year agreement that includes wage increases and modifications to working conditions.

Will Vera, the union’s president, expressed pride in the unanimous decision of the members. “I am proud of my members. I am proud that they believe in me. I believe in them,” he stated. Although Vera indicated that he is not close to calling a strike, the authorization vote enhances his negotiating position with SEPTA.

Union negotiations with SEPTA, which include bus, subway, and trolley operators, mechanics, cashiers, and custodians, have been described as cordial by Vera. He acknowledged, however, that “we all know things can change at any moment.”

The backdrop of these discussions includes uncertainty related to the recent state budget. Lawmakers passed a budget of $50.1 billion without allocating funds for transit agencies. Vera pointed out the need for a two-year contract that addresses wage increases and what the union considers outdated work rules. Among these is a concern regarding a third-party management system that complicates the use of sick time for employees.

“There’s a lot of things in these contracts that have been put in since the ’40s, the ’50s, and the ’60s, and now I’ve been given an opportunity to change this,” Vera noted. He has been involved in the local’s leadership for over a decade before becoming president.

SEPTA acknowledged the authorization vote and reiterated its commitment “to continue to engage in good-faith negotiations, with the goal of reaching a new agreement that is fair.”

The union’s international president, John Samuelsen, emphasized the urgency of the negotiations, stating, “If SEPTA doesn’t put money on the table, we’re going to shut Philly down.” He also mentioned that union members from New York City would join Local 234 in picketing if a strike occurs.

Lyle Smith, a body mechanic with 18 years of experience, echoed the sentiment of his fellow workers, expressing frustration over the current working conditions. “SEPTA really needs to pay, and we’re sick and tired of coming to work under poor work-rule conditions,” he said.

As the negotiations progress, the union remains attentive to the evolving financial landscape in Pennsylvania. There had been discussions regarding a potential tax on online sports betting and unregulated skill games to support transit funding. However, those proposals have not materialized, leaving transit agencies in a precarious financial position.

The looming possibility of a strike underscores the tension between the union and SEPTA as both parties work towards an agreement that could significantly impact public transportation in the Philadelphia area.