SEPTA Strike Avoided For Now, Normal Transit Schedules In Place

PHILADELPHIA — For now, there will be no striking SEPTA workers as the union representing them and the transit authority are continuing their contract negotiations.

Both SEPTA and Transport Workers Union TWU Local 234 Thursday night said a strike has been avoided for now.

The two groups said contract negotiations are ongoing through Friday, putting off a potential strike, despite the current one-year contract expiring at midnight.

The International Transport Workers Union said SEPTA has failed to negotiate an agreement that adequately protects Transit Workers from violent assaults and improves the quality of life for working families in Philadelphia.

"In the meantime, there will not be a strike by City Transit Division employees when their current contract expires at midnight, so all SEPTA services will continue to operate on normal schedules," SEPTA said in a news release Thursday.

"The International Transport Workers Union is throwing its full weight behind Local 234 in its fight against SEPTA," TWU International President John Samuelsen said. "The urgent safety and economic concerns of Transit Workers in Philadelphia can’t be ignored any longer. We will provide whatever resources are needed to achieve victory."

SEPTA said it "is committed to engaging in good-faith negotiations at the bargaining table, with the goal of reaching an agreement that is fair to our hard-working employees and to the customers and taxpayers who fund SEPTA."

"If SEPTA forces a strike, transport workers from across the country will enthusiastically join Local 234 on the picket lines: Airline Mechanics, Flight Attendants, Track Workers, Subway Conductors, Train Operators, and more," Samuelsen said. "Local 234’s fight is our fight too."

Local 234 is composed of roughly 5,000 bus, subway, and trolley operators, mechanics, cashiers, maintenance workers, and custodians.

It's members last week unanimously authorized a strike.