PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With contract negotiations stalled, Transport Workers Union Local 234 leaders say a strike is “imminent.”
“I’m tired of talking, and we’re about to start walking,” Local 234 President Will Vera told reporters on Friday.
The two sides have been negotiating since Local 234’s contract expired on Nov. 7. The union representing city bus, subway and trolley operators said it’s been seeking what it called modest raises and pension increases. National Union President John Samuelson said SEPTA, because of its lack of movement, is bringing this strike on itself.
“The patience is over. A strike is imminent. It’s going to happen. It may happen tonight. It may happen tomorrow. It’s imminent,” Samuelson said.
SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch said the union’s pension proposal would be a significant expense for SEPTA to take on. He said there hasn’t been much progress on that issue in the last few negotiating sessions. Still, he said, SEPTA wants to keep talking.
“We are certainly ready to resume contract discussions as soon as possible. Our goal is to get a fair agreement in place," he said.
There’s no word on when the two sides will get back together. The last SEPTA strike was a six-day walkout in 2016.