PECO Workers Strike for First Time in 145-Year History During July Fourth Heat Wave
In an unprecedented move, PECO workers strike began at 12:01 a.m. on July 4, 2026, marking the first labor walkout in the utility's 145-year history . Approximately 1,600 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 614 walked off the job after months of failed negotiations with PECO management . The historic strike coincides with a severe heat wave and the nation's semiquincentennial celebrations, affecting over 1.7 million electricity customers and 550,000 natural gas customers across southeastern Pennsylvania . Why Are PECO Workers Striking for the First Time in Company History? The strike centers on wages, retirement benefits, and healthcare . Union members, including linemen, gas technicians, mechanics, and call center workers, have been working without a contract since April 1 . Union President Larry Anastasi stated the two sides were "no closer to a deal than they were six months ago" when negotiations began in January 2026 . T...