PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Regional Rail riders are bearing the brunt of disruptions from federally mandated train inspections, but that’s not SEPTA’s only issue at the moment. The transit agency is also dealing with an expiring contract with its largest union.
Contract talks with Transport Workers Union Local 234 have been ongoing since July. With SEPTA’s uncertain finances, negotiations during the summer were centered on non-economic issues.
In September, SEPTA announced it would use $394 million in state capital funds over the next two years as a short-term funding solution. Newly elected union President Will Vera said using capital funds is not ideal. And after two one-year contracts with SEPTA, he’s aiming for longer.
“We need dedicated funding,” he said. “I am going into this now prepared to negotiate nothing less than a two-year contract.”
Vera said it’s too soon to seek a strike authorization from his 5,000 city bus and train operators and maintenance workers. The current contract expires on Nov. 7.
“Often these discussions go right down to when the contract expires. So in that sense, there’s still a significant amount of time left,” said SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch. “Our goal with this is to reach an agreement that is fair to our hardworking frontline employees and also is financially responsible to SEPTA’s bottom line.”
SEPTA also has a new chief labor relations officer, Brooke Minor, who starts on Monday.