PHILADELPHIA — Engineers and conductors for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s Regional Rail operations have authorized a strike, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen announced on Monday. The vote by engineers was unanimous, the BLET said. The union representing conductors, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), also authorized a strike by a 304-2 vote, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Don Hill, General Chairman of BLET Division 71, said in a press release that SEPTA currently has 177 engineers instead of the 230 needed to properly maintain the agency’s regional rail schedule, while BLET Vice President James P. Louis told SEPTA board members last week that the agency’s engineers and trainmen are the lowest paid in the industry, with new engineers paid 58% per hour less than counterparts in the Northeast and the top pay is 20% lower than other carriers in the Northeast.
The Inquirer reports the contract for BLET members expired in March, while SMART-TD members have been without a contract for about two years. A strike is not imminent because of the lengthy process of bargaining and mediation required under the Railway Labor Act. SMART’s next mediation session is scheduled for Dec. 20.
SEPTA prevented a strike by bus, trolley, and transit rail operators on Oct. 27 when it reached a tentative agreement with members of Transport Workers Union Local 234 [see “SEPTA, Transport Workers Union avert strike …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 30, 2023]. That agreement was ratified Nov. 10.
SEPTA is currently dealing with the Transit Police Union, whose members get considerably less than Phila PD.
Commuter Rail is under the Railway Labor Act and negotiations can drag on for years.
SEPTA’s pay is the lowest; the engineers and conductors are qualified on ACSES PTC and operation on congested 4-track lines. That makes them naturals to move on to Amtrak for a bigger payday.
Meanwhile SEPTA is forever training new engineers and conductors.
PHILIP — Thanks for the informative post.
The economics of public transportation are very troubled to say the absolute least. I’m not familiar with SEPTA or with Philadelphia. In general, transit agencies have seen rising costs and stagnant (at best) ticket revenue. The farebox recovery, compared to costs, was never favorable and now is bottoming out.
All local transit is dependent on federal funding. If or when that is withdrawn, good luck.