Philadelphia bus drivers, subway and trolley operators, and other transport workers who belong to the SEPTA union unanimously voted on Sunday to strike. The job walk off could happen in late 2014 or early 2015.

"There wasn't a nay in the room. Members don't want to strike, but they are willing to fight for what we need," stated Transport Workers Union Local 234 President Willie Brown, reports Philly.com.

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The decision to strike is the result of 4,700 transit employees working for seven months with no contract. "We waited and waited and its time for us to get what we're due. We've been patient and understanding. We don't want money, we want our rights and benefits intact," ABC quoted Jay Moore, a SEPTA employee.

While SEPTA continues to negotiate with the union, what has been slowing down the bargaining process is disagreement between the two parties over the size of pension fund contributions.

The union members started to contribute their personal share to the pension fund only in the late 1990s to fund increases in pension benefits. Their current rate of contribution is 3.5 percent of salary, excluding overtime payments.

Brown assured Philadelphia commuters that the union members would not walk off their jobs this week and the union would review the situation at the end of the week as negotiations continue.

Some SEPTA workers, to express their disenchantment with the slow pace of contract negotiations, wore T-shirts that threaten with the words: "We can and will strike!"

Those who voted in the Sunday meeting said they don't want to strike, but are ready to not report for work if they must.

"Who's really ready to walk out and strike, especially in this type of economy, nobody wants to do it. It's unfair to be treated in a certain way and put up with certain things for them to see that we're serious that if we have to walk, we have to walk," said SEPTA employee Emmie Beamer.

SEPTA spokeswoman Jerri Williams said the company and union had several meetings last week and prior weeks. "We hope to be able to continue discussing the issues and to be able to come to an agreement," Williams stated.

SEPTA or the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transport Authority operates buses, subways, elevated rail, commuter rail, light rail and electric trolley cars in and around Pennsylvania. It serves around 3.9 people by providing transport services to cities and counties in Philadelphia and parts of Delaware and New Jersey.

With 306.9 million unlinked trips, it is the 5^th biggest overall transit system in the U.S. and the sixth-largest rapid system in the country, serving three states for more than 50 years.

Tagssepta, transport strike, Pennsylvania