PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — There will be no strike Friday, as SEPTA and Transport Workers Union Local 234 agreed on Thursday night to continue negotiations after a midnight contract expiration. In a statement the transit agency said all services would operate normally on Friday.
There are two strike issues for TWU Local 234 — safety and wages. At the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District Hotel in Old City, union President Brian Pollitt said SEPTA promised to improve safety for bus, trolley and subway operators during last year’s negotiations.
“Last year, they said they were going to do something and here I am a year later, which is evidence they did nothing,” he said. “So this time, it’s definitely something that we’ll walk on.”
Pollitt said the union would also strike if SEPTA continued to offer a one-year contract with no raise. Local 234 members voted unanimously to authorize a strike on Oct. 27.
According to SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch, the transit agency is negotiating while it tries to resolve a $240 million deficit.
“We’re looking at any and all options that we may have for being able to fill that gap and also be able to get a contract in place that doesn’t disrupt service,” he said. He adds, one particular option would be to continue talks past the contract expiration. “That would be up to union leadership.”
Pollitt has indicated he is open to round-the-clock negotiations. “I’m here at the hotel right now and I’ll stay here as long as we need to stay here to iron out a good deal,” he said.
SEPTA’s last operator strike was a six-day walkout in 2016. A strike would halt city transit including buses, trolleys and subways, but Regional Rail trains would continue to run.
Busch said negotiations will resume at 2 p.m. Friday.