PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 16, 2023) – SEPTA and FOTP Lodge 109 today reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for Transit Police officers. As a result of this agreement, SEPTA officers will return to their regular patrols starting this afternoon, ending a strike that began on Wednesday.

“We are happy to welcome back our police officers with this tentative agreement in place,” said SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie S. Richards. “Negotiators for both SEPTA and the FOTP have been working around the clock, as have our police supervisors who have been covering patrols.

“I also want to thank Governor Shapiro, who has been in contact with each of us and played a key role in bringing people together to forge this agreement. The Governor’s engagement enabled us to come to a deal that protects public safety on SEPTA and takes care of hard-working union members who put their lives on the line every day.”

The tentative agreement will now go to both FOTP membership and the SEPTA Board for approval.

“This tentative agreement is fair to our hard-working police officers and financially responsible for SEPTA,” said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon Sr. “We greatly appreciate the efforts of our police supervisors to cover patrols and keep the system safe these last few days, as well as the assistance we received from our law enforcement partners.”

Governor Shapiro and his administration have been in communication with all parties involved in the negotiations, and the Governor’s leadership was instrumental in reaching this agreement.

SEPTA Police officers will be returning to their regular shifts this afternoon. The department will be at full staffing levels no later than 11 p.m. for the overnight shift.

For more information about SEPTA, please visit SEPTA.org.

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