Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 234

Philadelphia, PA

This is the Summer 2027 fellowship description for this mentor organization. 

Transport Workers Union of Philadelphia, Local 234 represents approximately 5,000 public sector workers employed by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) and Upper Darby Township.  The Local's leadership and staff, with whom the Fellow will work side by side, are all employees of SEPTA on leaves of absence to run the Local.

The Peggy Browning Fund Fellow will work closely with the Local's General Counsel (himself a former Fellow in 2016) supporting all the legal work of the Local.  This primarily includes negotiating collective bargaining agreements for the Local's 5 bargaining units, enforcing those agreements by arbitrating grievances, litigating unfair practice charges under the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act, and defending the Union from suits against it.  Though the Local is mostly focused on these established bargaining units, it does sometimes engage in new organizing, so the Fellow could also have the opportunity to perform some of the associated legal work for organizing campaigns.  2027 should be a particularly exciting time for the Fellow because three of the Local's CBAs with SEPTA will expire in November 2027, so the Local's preparation for and participation in negotiations will be in full swing.  Though it is difficult to predict what else exactly might compromise the Fellow's workload, the General Counsel is committed to ensuring that the Fellow leaves having produced a meaningful writing sample.

The Fellow will primarily work in-person at the Local's Philadelphia office, although some remote work may be approved.

The successful candidate should possess a serious commitment to the labor movement and the struggle for workers' rights.

In addition to the standard application requirements (cover letter, application form, essays, resume), applicants should also include a legal writing sample and transcript (when available).

The position will pay $7,000.00 for the full ten-week fellowship.