SEPTA, TWU Local 234 Announce Tentative Five-Year Contract
November 7, 2016
The below release announces a tentative 5-year contract between SEPTA and TWU 234. During the morning commute, customers should continue to use Regional Rail alternatives for service in the City of Philadelphia. City Transit Service will be phased in through the day with full service restored for the Tuesday morning commute. Customers should check http://www.septa.org for City Transit Service Status and Information.
SEPTA and TWU Local 234 have announced a tentative five-year contract that will bring 4,700-plus employees back to work and end a six-day strike that shut down the City Transit Division. Service will be phased-back in today on the Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line subway, city buses and trolleys, with full schedules restored by the start of the service day on Tuesday.
“We believe this agreement is fair to our employees, and to the fare-paying customers and taxpayers who fund SEPTA,” said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon Sr. “It provides for wage increases, pension improvements, and maintains health care coverage levels while addressing rising costs.”
City Transit Division service has been shut down since the start of the TWU Local 234 strike at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, November 1.
“We know that the strike has caused a significant hardship for thousands of our riders. We sincerely regret this disruption to transportation throughout the City of Philadelphia and the region,” Deon said. “We thank riders for their patience under these extremely challenging circumstances. Negotiators on both sides worked tirelessly to get this agreement done, and we now look forward to the return of normal service.”
The tentative contract agreement will now go before TWU Local 234 members for a ratification vote, and to the SEPTA Board for approval.
“SEPTA would like to thank Governor Wolf, his appointee to the SEPTA Board, Pa. Rep. Dwight Evans, Mayor Kenney, and other elected officials who played a role in keeping SEPTA and the union at the bargaining table,” Deon said. “We would also like to thank SEPTA employees for their hard work in very difficult circumstances, particularly the negotiating team that has been working around the clock to get this agreement done.”
SEPTA will provide status updates on the return of City Transit Division services online at http://www.septa.org, and on the Authority’s Twitter feeds including @septaphilly. Customers can also call (215) 580-7800 to speak with a Customer Service Representative.
