SEPTA Transit Police Back To Work As Tentative Agreement Reached

PHILADELPHIA — After about a week of striking, SEPTA's transit police are back to work after SEPTA and the Fraternal Order of Transit Police Lodge 109 reached a tentative contract agreement.

SEPTA officials said a tentative agreement was reached Tuesday night and transit police workers are back on the job.

"We won’t be able to discuss details of the agreement until after the FOTP has had an opportunity to discuss it with their members," SEPTA said.

However, SEPTA did say the agreement deals with a five-year contract that provides wage increases and continues a generous package of health, welfare and retirement benefits.

"SEPTA is happy to have our police officers back on the job to serve customers throughout the region," officials said.

The strike began March 6 and had 178 officers with the SEPTA Transit Police Department off duty after working without a contract for a year.

During the strike, 49 SEPTA police supervisors remained on duty, working 12-hour shifts on patrols throughout the system, and Philadelphia — as well as suburban — police also helped with patrols and responses in outlying parts of the SEPTA system.