Philly-area PECO workers strike amid heat wave after stalled contract talks

About 1,600 PECO workers represented by IBEW Local 614 walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. Saturday after negotiations failed to produce a contract, launching a strike during a holiday weekend and ongoing heat wave. The union seeks wages aligned with industry standards, a universal pension, retirement medical benefits, and a unified contract; PECO says it has offered a market-competitive package with nearly a 20% wage increase over five years and enhanced benefits, and a federal mediator has been assigned though the union has not agreed to participate. Both sides say they will continue talks to reach a fair agreement, with PECO maintaining operations through contingency plans.