Here’s everything to know about the Peco worker strike
Unionized linemen, call center workers, and other Peco employees plan to walk off the job on July 4th.
This article was originally published May 29, and has been updated with recent information about bargaining and IBEW Local 614’s strike plans. This is a developing story, and it will continue to be updated.
Peco workers plan to strike on the Fourth of July, after three months of working under an expired contract.
Union members include employees who help restore electric service during outages, such as those sometimes caused by intense summer storms.
The company and the union have been bargaining since January, and they have reached some agreements, but wages and benefits have become sticking points.
Bargaining turned ugly in April, as both sides filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board. Peco has suggested using a federal mediator.
The most recent bargaining session was on June 19. Peco and Local 614 plan to bargain next on July 1.
When could Peco workers go on strike?
Workers plan to walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. on the Fourth of July if they have not reached a deal by then.
They voted at the end of May to authorize a strike if their union called for it, with over 1,000 participating in the vote.
Have Peco workers gone on strike in the past?
No. This would be the first work stoppage in the company’s history. Since unionizing, this group has never before seen their contract expire without a new one in place.
Peco workers voted to join the union in 2004 and ratified their first contract in 2007.
Who are the union members and what do they do?
IBEW Local 614 represents roughly 1,500 Peco employees, including call center employees and field workers who maintain electric and gas infrastructure.
Some members work long hours during outages to help restore electricity to customers. Linemen, who repair and maintain power lines, are some of the union’s highest paid workers, and made on average over $243,500 last year in wages, including overtime.
» READ MORE: These Peco employees do dangerous work at all hours. Their union is pushing for a better retirement package.
What does each side want?
Workers want higher wages and a uniform retirement plan for all members. Some 600 workers who were hired in recent years don’t have a pension, while other groups have pension plans with varying terms.
Peco has offered a 20% wage increase over five years, as well as “enhanced retirement and medical benefits,” according to company officials, who said their proposals “support our employees while maintaining affordability for customers.”
What does a Peco strike mean for my electricity? What if there’s an outage?
Peco has a strike contingency plan in place, chief operating officer Nicole LeVine has said. Customers shouldn’t expect delays or interruptions in service, she said.
“If there’s severe weather, we’ll be able to restore any service issues,” LeVine has said.
The company would call in substitutes for the striking workers, LeVine said this week, some of whom are “familiar with our specific system,” while others “are coming in from outside of the region.” She declined to say how many workers are part of the contingency plan.
“We’re an emergency response company,” LeVine said. “We’ve been working on contingency planning in the event of a strike, and we were well prepared to execute our plan if needed.”
How many customers does Peco service?
In Southeastern Pennsylvania, Peco provides electricity to 1.7 million customers and natural gas to 553,000.
