SEPTA, Union Avoid Strike

By Alison Smith:

SEPTA and its largest union came to a tentative agreement late Friday to avoid a strike that could have impacted more than a million transit users.

The deal with Transport Workers Union Local 234 call for a 5 percent raise over a two-year contract, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

TWU Local 234 represents more than 5,000 SEPTA bus drivers, subway and trolley operators and other transit workers, the union said. They had been working without a contract since March and April, the Inquirer said.

The last TWU strike, in November 2009, was six days, but a strike in 1998 lasted 40 days. Regional Rail would not have been impacted by a TWU Local 234 strike.

The deal was reached by negotiators from both sides and still must be voted on by the SEPTA board and TWU Local 234 members, the Inquirer said.