SEPTA rail members ratify agreement

SMART Transportation Division Local 61 members working at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority recently ratified a new agreement governing the rates of pay and working conditions of conductors and assistant conductors on the regional commuter railroad.

With nearly 79 percent of eligible members casting ballots, a vast majority of those voting – 87 percent – approved the agreement.

The five-year pact includes a signing bonus, general wage increases, conductor certification pay, enhanced bereavement allowance, increased uniform allowance and enriched continuation of health and welfare benefits among its provisions.

Transportation Division Vice President John E. Lesniewski, who assisted with negotiations, expressed his gratitude to GO STA General Chairperson Freddie Williams and his negotiating committee consisting of Vice General Chairpersons Francis McDermott, Martin Strom, Michelle Duncan and General Committee Secretary Nelson Pagan for their enduring commitment to finding an equitable agreement for the benefit of Local 61 members.

SEPTA is a metropolitan transportation authority that operates various forms of public transit – bus, subway and elevated rail, commuter rail, light rail and electric trolley bus – that serves 3.9 million people in and around Philadelphia, Pa.