Overview
- About 1,600 IBEW Local 614 members walked off the job on Saturday, July 4, to press demands for higher pay and uniform retirement and medical benefits after talks that began in January.
- PECO and the union announced a tentative agreement late Monday, July 6, that the union says restores pension coverage, secures retirement medical benefits and delivers significant multi-year wage gains while the deal awaits a ratification vote.
- The company kept service running during the stoppage by mobilizing contractors, out-of-area crews and non‑striking supervisors, and it said most storm-related outages that affected tens of thousands of customers have been restored.
- Contract provisions reported by both sides include a cash-balance pension plan, wage increases that company statements describe as roughly 22% over five years for field workers and smaller raises for call-center staff, plus work‑rule changes such as 24‑hour notice for mandatory call-center overtime.
- The walkout was the first work stoppage in PECO’s 145-year history and highlights a broader battle over pensions, utility profits and pay that could influence future labor talks in the sector as members vote on ratification and the parties set an implementation timetable.