The Transit Workers Union announced Friday afternoon that they will stay on the job even though their contract with SEPTA expires at midnight.
"We're willing to go the extra mile to reach a fair agreement," TWU Local 234 President Willie Brown said in a press release Friday.
Negotiations continued Friday between the Transport Workers Union Local 234 and SEPTA but as of Friday afternoon no deal was in place.
The TWU, SEPTA contract concerns about 4,700 bus drivers, trolley and subway operators and maintenance employees -- nearly half of SEPTA’s total work force.
Contracts for the suburban transit divisions expire next month.
"We're not willing to sign on to a lengthy contract extension or make hasty decisions having a long-term effect on our members' family finances.
Should a strike eventually occur, Regional Rail should continue to operate since those operators work under other contracts. CCT, the Norristown High-Speed Line and suburban trolley and bus routes will continue to operate, according to SEPTA.
SEPTA held a news conference Friday morning “to announce that, in the event of a City Transit Division service interruption, alternate service plans have been prepared.”
Part of the contingency plan is that buses that normally go into the city would stop at a suburban train station so that passengers could get onto Regional Rail.
SEPTA plans on having "ambassadors" on hand to help commuters should the strike happen.
Transit union workers last went on strike after the World Series in 2009 -- a work stoppage that lasted six days.
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