SEPTA’s historic Route 15 trolleys ‘very close’ to returning
The green and cream trolleys were supposed to hit the tracks back in September, but a set date for their return is “within a month or two.”
1 year ago
File photo: A transit security officer works on the platform of the Girard stop of the Market-Frankford El train on July 15, 2021. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
This story originally appeared on 6abc.
Contract negotiations are still underway between SEPTA officials and the Fraternal Order of Transit Police days past the deadline.
The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 109 (FOTP) announced Wednesday that it is pausing plans for a strike.
“After discussions this morning with the 11 members of the FOTP board, we’ve decided to hit pause on a strike for now,” said FOTP’s president Omari Bervine, who is a SEPTA patrol officer.
A new deadline has been set for Dec. 13 to decide on a new agreement or go on strike.
The union says 170 police officers who patrol SEPTA’s stations and fleet of buses, subways, trains, and trolleys have been working without a contract since March.
The union and the transit agency both agree there has been some progress and say they are each committed to reaching an agreement to avoid a strike.
The main sticking points are salary and how long the proposed raises will be spread out.