Fraternal Order of Transit Police v. Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board

**Transit Police Union Loses Right to Bargain Collectively** The Fraternal Order of Transit Police, a union representing transit police officers, wanted to negotiate wages and working conditions with their employer, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). The union filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board asking for the right to represent these workers in collective bargaining. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board rejected the union's petition, and the court upheld this decision. The court ruled that SEPTA does not qualify as a government entity under Pennsylvania's Act 111, which governs collective bargaining for police and firefighters. Since SEPTA is not considered part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or one of its political subdivisions, the transit police officers cannot use Act 111 to form a union and negotiate contracts. **What this means for workers:** This ruling clarifies that employees of certain quasi-governmental organizations like transit authorities may not have the same collective bargaining rights as traditional government employees. Workers at similar transportation authorities or public-private entities should understand that their right to unionize may depend on how their employer is legally classified, not just whether it provides public services.