After the Thanksgiving break, the city’s public transit system is poised to resume talks with the Transport Workers Union Local 234 on Wednesday, a move that comes after union members voted to authorize a strike.
Negotiations Set to Resume
SEPTA officials plan to restart contract negotiations with thousands of union‑represented operators, mechanics, and other staff on Wednesday. The talks follow a unanimous union vote to authorize a strike in pursuit of a new contract. The union’s members have been operating without a contract since the previous agreement expired on November 7, 2025.
Abrupt Walkout and Video Statement
According to NBC10’s news partner, KYW Newsradio, the last round of negotiations collapsed when union officials walked out. A video posted online on Friday by union president Will Vera explained the reasons behind the walkout. The video highlighted that the union’s primary sticking point was pension contributions.
Pension Dispute at the Core
“Yesterday, SEPTA refused to talk about pension,” Vera said in the video. “And the hard part was this: they wanted us to sit there and believe that we did not have the right to speak to the people that are handling our pension.” He added that union members contribute $13 million a year toward their pension fund and that they “don’t trust” how the fund is being managed. “We don’t trust what they are doing with the money,” Vera continued.
Additional Concerns: Sick Pay and Health Care
Union officials also raised worries about SEPTA’s handling of sick pay and the rising costs of health care for workers. These issues were cited as additional reasons for the union’s frustration and the decision to walk out of negotiations.
SEPTA’s Response
SEPTA officials countered that the talks have been productive and that both sides have been working in good‑faith negotiations toward a new contract. They emphasized their willingness to engage constructively with the union, even as the pension dispute remains unresolved.
Strike Authorization and Preparation
While the union has authorized a strike, it has not announced a specific plan or date for striking. In the video, Vera urged members to stay prepared: “Enjoy this holiday, next week I need you to prepare, as we prepare, to make our next move.” The union’s decision to authorize a strike follows a one‑year deal that kept the union from striking last year.
External Factors: Thermal Detector Deadline
The negotiations unfold against the backdrop of SEPTA’s potential delay in installing thermal detector units on all Silverliner IV trains. SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch told KYW NewsRadio that the agency is struggling to source the wire needed for the sensors, which could affect the agency’s compliance with a new deadline.
Key Takeaways
- The union has authorized a strike and will resume talks on Wednesday.
- Pension contributions and lack of transparency are the main dispute points.
- SEPTA maintains that negotiations have been productive and in good faith.
- External issues, such as the thermal detector installation, add complexity to the negotiations.
The coming days will determine whether the union and SEPTA can bridge their differences before a strike disrupts Philadelphia’s transit system.
