# SEPTA Workers Reach Agreement, Avoiding Strike

- [![SEPTA rail car issue impacts Temple University commuter students and faculty.](https://templeupdate.com/update/files//sites/47/2014/06/SEPTA-Temple.jpg)](https://templeupdate.com/update/files//sites/47/2014/06/SEPTA-Temple.jpg)

SEPTA workers reached an agreement with the SEPTA transit agency on Friday morning, creating a 2-year deal that will avoid a strike, as well as a subway shutdown.

For the past several days, SEPTA workers have threatened to strike. They cited issues regarding COVID-19, higher wages, and more as their cause. By walking off the job, more than a few subways lines would have been closed down.

Had workers walked away, the buses, trolley, subway and a few elevated train lines would have been closed.

This shutdown could have had a negative impact on Philadelphia commuters, especially Temple students.

Temple University and many other institutions had policy in place in case of a strike.

Senior VP and Chief Administrative Officer at Temple, Kenneth Kaiser, sent a press release last Tuesday regarding the impending strike.

Kaiser stated, "Temple University will be open for business as usual and all in-person classes and events will be held as scheduled", in a university-wide email.

According to the release, all students and faculty were expected on campus should any strike have occurred. Luckily, with a new deal in place, this was avoided.

The 2-year contract which is due to be ratified on November 5 includes a range of new benefits for SEPTA employees. It will reportedly include raised wages, pandemic-related bonuses, and the benefit of parental leave.

To learn more about this, details can be found on [SEPTA's website](https://www.septa.org/) or on the [Transport Worker Union's site](https://www.twulocal234.net/).

More updates can be found on [Temple Update's website](https://templeupdate.com/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/templeupdate/), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/templeupdate) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/TempleUpdate).

Student reactions to the potential strike can be found on Temple Update's latest broadcast.