SEPTA workers stay on the job Friday morning

Thousands of SEPTA union workers will stay on the job Friday as they continue negotiating with the transit agency.

While their contract expired at midnight, leaders of Transit Workers Union Local 234 report that talks are progressing, so members will keep working as negotiations go on.

For now, there’s no strike planned for Friday, and all SEPTA services will operate on their regular schedules. However, union leaders have warned they will strike if their demands aren’t met. SEPTA says it’s committed to fair negotiations, aiming to reach an agreement that respects the contributions of employees and serves the riders and taxpayers who fund SEPTA.

The union is asking for “fair treatment on pay and much-needed improvements to safety and security for both passengers and transit workers.”

If a strike does happen, it would halt all bus, trolley, and subway/EL services within Philadelphia. Although it’s still unclear whether the union will strike, commuters should prepare for that possibility.

Representing over 4,500 workers who operate buses, trolleys, and subway lines in Philadelphia, union leadership said that after months of negotiations, they finally saw some progress in recent days but simply ran out of time. “We’re willing to go the extra mile and allow additional time to reach a fair agreement,” said TWU Local 234 President Brian Pollitt. “But let me be clear: if SEPTA’s management doesn’t meet our demands, we will be on the picket line.”

The union initially proposed a one-year contract with a 10% wage increase, while SEPTA responded with a $1,000 bonus if members would make concessions on health care. The union rejected that offer, and SEPTA has declined to discuss specific terms, noting that negotiations are ongoing.