PECO Workers Go On 1st Strike In Utility's History

PHILADELPHIA — PECO workers are on strike following a weekend in the region of brutal heat and dangerous storms that knocked out power for many residents in the Philadelphia region.

This is the first work stoppage in PECO’s 145-year history.

PECO has started negotiations with IBEW Local 614 on Monday morning after bargaining late into Sunday night failed to reach a deal.

Related: PECO Withdraws PA Rate Hike Proposal

Pickets are expected to continue throughout the five-county Philadelphia region on Monday.

IBEW Local 614 — the union representing workers who maintain PECO’s electrical and natural gas system — went on strike at 12:01 a.m. on July 4 after PECO failed to reach an agreement with the union.

Local 614 members have been working without a contract since April 1, and have been negotiating with PECO management since January.

PECO said it has negotiated in good faith and remains committed to reaching an agreement that recognizes "our employees' contributions while continuing to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable energy service for our customers and communities."

Local 614 represents 1800 members, 1600 of which are PECO workers who will be striking.

Many Local 614 members are paid up to 30 percent less than workers doing the same job at other utilities.

“Two days into this strike and our absence is already being felt. Tens of thousands of PECO customers lost power this weekend, and many are still painfully waiting for it to be restored. Instead of delivering a fair contract that puts our skilled members back in the field, PECO is burning money on scabs who don’t know this complicated system. We are doing everything in our power to reach a fair deal and put our members back to work," said Larry Anastasi, president and business manager of IBEW Local 614.