Union representing 1,600 PECO workers in Philadelphia area plans to go on strike July 4
Union workers who maintain PECO's electric and natural gas lines and serve customers in the Philadelphia region plan to go on strike on July 4 if demands for a new contract are not met.
The roughly 1,600 PECO workers in IBEW Local 614 have been without a contract since April 1. The union says its members are linemen, gas technicians, mechanics, call center workers and back office workers.
Members held a news conference Thursday to announce details of the strike. They said the strike would begin at 12:01 a.m. unless PECO made concessions that the union has demanded.
The union has called for the new contract to include wage increases, a change to the retirement benefit system and improvements to medical benefits.
PECO COO Nicole LeVine said the two sides plan to meet again on Thursday, July 2.
"The last thing that any of us want is a strike, but unfortunately if our employees choose to do that, we'll be ready," LeVine said. "It's difficult to land on a contract when you meet so infrequently ... If they want to meet today, we'd love to meet today."
In a later statement, PECO said a federal mediator was assigned to the negotiations, but the union has not agreed to participate in mediation.
"We have presented a strong, market-competitive proposal – including a nearly 20 percent increase in wages over five years, and enhanced retirement and medical benefits that support our employees while maintaining affordability for customers," the statement said.
Workers voted in May to authorize a strike after weeks of negotiations with PECO did not result in a new contract. At that time, no date was set for when workers would walk off the job.
Local 614 posted on social media last week that it was "ready to strike. Ready to win."
"Putting your life on the line for this company for 30, 35, 40 years and not having decent retirement benefits is beyond degrading, and demeaning to the women and men that this company and this community relies on to keep the lights on and gas flowing," union assistant business manager Jimmy McGill said in Thursday's news conference.
After the previous contract expired, Local 614 leaders said workers would stay on the job for the time being, even though a deal had not been reached.
"PECO is willing to put untrained technicians on power lines on a holiday weekend rather than pay these workers what they deserve," AFL-CIO Philadelphia President Danny Bauder said.
PECO has said it wants to negotiate in good faith and has contingency staffing plans if a work stoppage occurs.
