by Katya Yindra
Philadelphia, PA – The Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 234, representing approximately 5,000 mass transit workers, has decided to hold off on striking following last-minute negotiations with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). The union had authorized a strike after their one-year contract expired at 12:01 a.m. last Friday (11/8), but talks have continued without work stoppage.
Union President Brian Pollitt expressed his ambivalence towards striking, saying he is “trying to do the honorable thing,” by continuing negotiations. “I’ll roll my sleeves up and bang on the table and do everything I have to do to avoid a strike,” Pollitt stated, claiming that such an action would “hurt the people of this region.”
The union is advocating for higher wages and improved safety measures to protect workers against assaults and harassment. Pollitt has called for increased visible security, even suggesting deploying the National Guard. “We need some of these people that are doing these acts to see that soldier with that M16 in their hand, so maybe they’ll second guess doing the nonsense,” he said.
Earlier this year, in neighboring New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed the National Guard to New York City subway stations in an attempt to crack down on fare evasion within the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) system. NYC has also increased its reliance on private security guards, reportedly spending $1 million per month, and expanded NYPD patrols, which have resulted in $155 million in overtime costs. However, these measures have had limited success in reducing fare evasion and have raised concerns about police violence, exemplified by NYPD’s mass shooting in September.
Back in Philadelphia, SEPTA has cited an ongoing fiscal crisis as a significant barrier to meeting the union’s demands for better wages and increased security. The agency faces a $240 million annual deficit, which has prompted controversial proposals, including a 30% fare increase and a 20% reduction in services in an attempt to shift costs onto workers in the city.
Adding to SEPTA’s turbulence, CEO and General Manager Leslie Richards announced she would step down at the end of the month. The announcement comes less than a year after SEPTA’s board extended her contract by four years and approved a 21% pay increase, raising her annual salary to $425,000.
To address fare evasion, which SEPTA estimates costs $68 million annually, the agency has resumed issuing criminal summonses after a five-year hiatus and is investing in advanced gating systems. According to SEPTA’s website, the gates are expected to be fully installed by the end of 2025 and will utilize 3D imaging technology to “distinguish between adults, children, and objects, such as wheelchairs, luggage, and strollers,” and identify those who don’t pay the fare.
