Our Issues
ATLAS (Administrative & Technical Labor Association of SEPTA), OPEIU Local 32 is OUR union for SAM employees at SEPTA. It is run by SAM employees for SAM employees. So the issues that we fight for in our union will be decided by what SAM employees care about, not by anybody else, and will be democratically decided by US.
In the time that we have spoken to hundreds of our SAM colleagues, a few issues have been repeated over and over again. This is in not a complete list! If you have other issues that are important to you, our union wants to hear about them and push to solve them. And if you are also concerned about these issues, know that hundreds of SAM colleagues feel the same way.
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Work flexibility & remote work
Hybrid work was eliminated in September 2025 – immediately after SAM employees worked tirelessly through a summer of SEPTA facing a fiscal crisis. SEPTA's workplace flexibility is far behind our peer agencies and has forced employees to work in-office in dangerous weather conditions, (including when SEPTA’s own trains, buses, and trolleys were unable to run!) or else risk discipline.
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A voice at work
SEPTA leadership has consistently changed policies affecting SAM employees’ working conditions for years with no democratic say from us. Unlike our unionized colleagues, we have no protection from nontransparent, unfair, and unevenly enforced policies – and we have no voice in helping to formulate policies that improve the lives of SAM employees so that we help SEPTA deliver the best public transportation for Southeast Pennsylvania.
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Protect our benefits
SEPTA leadership has been chipping away at the benefits SAM employees have cherished for years, the benefits that make SEPTA a place that workers want to work for over our peer agencies. That has included our retirement pension as well as health insurance. Because of this, SAM has experienced turnover and the loss of some of our best colleagues who were essential to continuing to improve SEPTA’s operations and service in our community.
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Protect fair pay practices
There have been multiple years when SAM employees did not receive any pay increases (despite massive inflation and cost of living increase) because of SEPTA’s funding crisis. Now we want to have a voice to make up for what we lost and to make sure that SAM employees are protected just like SEPTA’s other unionized staff.
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And MANY more
Ending unilateral changes to sick leave, vacation and bereavement policies
Improved orientation and onboarding processes
Allowances for PPE and other safety equipment
Return of professional development support (certifications, exams, courses, conferences, etc.)
More issues that are important to you? Reach out with your ideas.