PECO strike: Union workers to walk off job. Here’s what to know

Key Points:

• PECO workers, represented by IBEW Local 614, plan to strike on July 4 if no contract agreement is reached after five months of stalled negotiations, marking the first strike in PECO’s 145-year history.
• Key union demands include better wages, improved retirement benefits for newer employees, and equal pay for call center workers, with the union proposing a 5.5% raise this year followed by higher increases in subsequent years.
• PECO disputes the union’s claims, stating their wage offer is competitive and includes a 20% raise over five years for field workers and 16% for call center employees, while also assuring customers that service interruptions will be minimized using trained contractors during any strike.
• Both sides have filed unfair labor practice complaints, with PECO accusing the union of refusing federal mediation, while the union expresses willingness to meet with a mediator and accuses PECO of bad-faith bargaining.
• The strike threat coincides with major events in Philadelphia, including the city’s 250th anniversary celebrations and the FIFA tournament, raising concerns about the timing and potential impact on the city’s image and services.