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
Source: Philly.com
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