More than 1,000 PECO workers will continue working after contract expired
More than 1,000 PECO workers will remain on the job and work without a contract after it expired at midnight Tuesday.
A spokesperson for IBEW Local 614, the union representing PECO workers, said the two sides have failed to reach a deal, but they won't be walking off the job. It marks the first time IBEW Local 614 will be without a contract.
"No strike is planned, members will continue working without a contract because they know how much the public relies on them," Melissa McCleery, a spokesperson for IBEW Local 614, said.
McCleery said IBEW Local 614 will continue to negotiate in good faith with hopes of making a deal with PECO. It's unclear when the next round of negotiations will happen. The two sides met Tuesday morning, but didn't come to a deal.
IBEW Local 614 says it is fighting for higher wages, improved health care benefits and the restoration of pensions. The union represents roughly 1,600 workers, including linemen, gas technicians, mechanics and call center employees who help maintain the region's electric and natural gas systems.
The union also announced it filed unfair labor practices charges against the National Labor Relations Board, citing what it calls a lack of progress in negotiations.
The announcement comes as the union points to PECO's recent financial performance, noting the company reported a nearly 50% increase in profits last year following rate hikes that raised customer bills. On Tuesday, PECO proposed more rate hikes that would increase bills for people in the Delaware Valley.
Stuart Davidson, a Center City attorney who is the union's lead negotiator, accused PECO of failing to provide adequate information to the union to be able to evaluate benefit plans, including health care, pensions and 401(k) plans.
PECO Chief Operating Officer Nicole LeVine said the company's profit spike was weather-driven.
"A lot of our profits are very weather-dependent. So you saw some decreased profits the year before because we had a very mild season, and then last year we had a colder winter and a warmer summer. So when you compare year-over-year, that's why you see the differentials, it's really weather," LeVine said.
If IBEW Local 614 did eventually go on strike, it could impact approximately 1.7 million PECO customers across southeastern Pennsylvania.