The union that represents SEPTA bus, subway and trolley drivers will meet Sunday afternoon to take a strike authorization vote, but sources say they will not call a strike Monday.
Transport Workers Union Local 234 will meet at 3 p.m. to discuss the latest offer from SEPTA management and ask the rank and file for a strike authorization.
While technically that would mean a strike could be called any time after that, sources say TWU Local 234 president Willie Brown will hold a news conference Monday afternoon to talk about why the union is dissatisfied with the current offer.
This union does not represent the workers who run SEPTA's regional rail lines. In the event of a strike of the city division, it's likely many riders would try to use regional rail trains as an alternative.
While the regional rail unions went on a one-day strike this summer, since then SEPTA has signed a contract with those employees. The last time TWU Local 234 hit the picket lines was in 2009 for a strike that lasted six days.
SEPTA spokeswoman Jerri Williams issued a statement in response:
"The parties continue to meet in negotiations to reach an agreement. Although the union has scheduled a strike vote for the weekend, we have been given no indication that a work stoppage is imminent. A Service Interruption Plan will be release if and when the situation changes."
