Members of SEPTA's largest union ratify 2-year contract

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Members of TWU Local 234, SEPTA's largest union, ratified a new two-year-contract on Wednesday.

They cast their ballot inside the Walnut and Locust Porters Room in Center City Philadelphia.

The two-year deal includes an across-the-board 3.5 percent wage increase in each year of the agreement. It also includes an increase in pension benefits and improvements to benefits for new employees.

The deal was reached earlier this month as the union threatened to go on strike.

The previous contract expired on November 7. Union members had authorized the union's president to call a strike if no agreement was reached.