PECO's first-ever work stoppage is over. IBEW Local 614 and the utility reached a tentative agreement late Monday night, ending a three-day strike that began at 12:01 a.m. on July 4 — the first walkout in PECO's 145-year history. The roughly 1,600-member bargaining unit, which covers linemen, gas technicians, and call center workers, will now vote on whether to ratify the five-year contract.
IBEW Local 614 president and business manager Larry Anastasi declared the outcome a landmark victory. He said the strike demonstrated just how indispensable Local 614 members are to the company's operations, and announced that represented employees would return to work on Wednesday.
What the New Contract Delivers
The central breakthrough involves workers hired since 2021 — approximately 600 people — who had previously been enrolled only in a 401(k) plan rather than the defined-benefit pension available to more tenured colleagues. Under the new agreement, cash balance pension plans and full retirement medical coverage will now extend to all members of the bargaining unit.
Those were the union's top priorities. It got both.
Wage increases are structured differently depending on the role. Linemen and gas technicians will receive annual raises of 4% over the first four years of the contract, stepping up to 4.5% in the fifth year. Call center employees will see 3% annual increases across all five years. The union had pushed for equal raises across the board, arguing that the pay disparity reflected a gender imbalance — call center staff are primarily women, while linemen and technicians are predominantly men.
Overtime Rules, Doctor Choice, and Upgrade Pay
Beyond wages and retirement benefits, the contract includes several other changes. Call center workers will be guaranteed at least 24 hours' notice before mandatory overtime kicks in. Previously, union members seeking medical certifications were directed to company-selected physicians; the new deal allows them to choose their own doctor. Upgrade pay — the additional compensation workers receive when filling in for a higher-paid role — will double from 5% to 10% on top of the member's base hourly rate, according to NBC Philadelphia.
How the Strike Unfolded
Negotiations between PECO management and Local 614 had been ongoing since January 2026. The union's contract expired April 1, and members continued working without an agreement until they walked off the job on Independence Day. The timing was pointed: a strike by utility workers on a holiday weekend immediately drew attention to service concerns during a period of high demand.
PECO responded to the work stoppage by bringing in contractors with prior experience on the system and deploying additional field support to handle storm-related outages during the holiday weekend.
Three days later, both sides had a deal. CBS Philadelphia reported that Anastasi framed the outcome as the beginning of a new chapter for the utility, saying workers who keep the power on deserve both respect and dignity — and that the strike proved PECO's dependence on its union workforce.
PECO's Response
The company acknowledged the agreement in measured terms. In a statement, PECO said it had remained focused on its customers, employees, and the communities it serves throughout the negotiating process. The utility described the tentative deal as reflecting a shared commitment to maintaining a safe workplace and delivering reliable service, and said it valued its long-standing relationship with IBEW Local 614. Represented employees will return to their regular duties while the contract advances through the union ratification process.
What Comes Next
The deal is tentative. Members still need to cast ratification votes before the contract is finalized. Social media reaction following the announcement was swift, with labor observers noting the scope of what the union had secured — pensions, retirement health coverage, and raises — after only three days on the picket line.
Anastasi called it a historic win. For now, the lights stay on.
