SEPTA rail electricians a step closer to strike
Electricians who work on SEPTA Regional Rail cars and equipment moved a step closer to being able to strike, following their release from federal mediation on Thursday.
![File photo: A SEPTA train car greets U.S. Open travelers (Brian X. McCrone/Philly.com)](https://www.inquirer.com/resizer/jTNUgE4j6MCwn5z5miWoqCYi_ig=/760x507/smart/filters:format(webp)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-pmn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/R2Y3UFBU2VHBVHQFA5PB7V72DM.jpg)
Electricians who work on SEPTA Regional Rail cars and equipment moved a step closer to being able to strike, following their release from federal mediation on Thursday.
The National Mediation Board ended its long-running efforts to broker an agreement between SEPTA and IBEW Local 744 and suggested the two sides submit their long-running dispute to binding arbitration.
The 200 electricians would accept arbitration, said Arthur Davidson, IBEW general chairman, but SEPTA will not, spokesman Andrew Busch said.
Federal law now requires a 30-day "cooling off" period and a 240-day dispute-resolution period before a strike or lockout would be permitted. That period would expire in January, assuming that a presidential board is created promptly to investigate the long-running contract dispute.
Electricians have been without a new contract since 2009.
- Paul Nussbaum