SEPTA, BLET reach tentative five-year agreement

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), representing 200 rail engineers at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), have reached a tentative agreement for a new five-year contract with the transit agency that will cover workers through July 2015.

 

“This agreement keeps the trains rolling in Philadelphia,” said Steve Bruno, national vice president of BLET. “The union has offered and management has accepted a compromise on economic issues to make this deal work. However, we still have critical safety concerns related to fatigue caused by long hours and inadequate training for new engineers. We will now seek resolution through federal regulators and public hearings rather than through collective bargaining with SEPTA.”

The tentative agreement, which includes a 13.32 percent pay raise, comes after five years of negotiations. Seeking to reach a settlement and avoid further delays, BLET members went on a one-day strike in June and then returned to work following appointment of a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB).

The terms and conditions of the tentative agreement will be presented to members BLET for a ratification vote. Results will be announced within the next 30 days.

 

 

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