SEPTA strike ends in time for Election Day with tentative contract

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and TWU Local 234 announced a tentative five-year contract Nov. 7, ending a six-day strike and bringing 4,700-plus employees back to work.

Representatives said service would resume partially Nov. 7 on the Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line subway, city buses and trolleys, with full service restored in time for Election Day, the morning of Nov. 8.

"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 [and] pension improvements and maintains health care coverage levels while addressing rising costs."

The full restoration of service Nov. 8 will be the transportation authority’s first day back in full service since the TWU Local 234 strike began Nov. 1 at 12:01 a.m.

"We know 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. The union sent an email the morning of Nov. 7 that simply read, “Tentative agreement reached. We are off strike.”

"SEPTA would like to thank Gov. 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."