About 1,600 IBEW Local 614 members walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. Saturday after more than 12 hours of Friday talks failed to produce a new contract.
The union says PECO has not made meaningful movement on wages, a universal pension, retirement medical benefits and a single contract, adding it has not received a wage proposal in months.
PECO says it already offered nearly a 20% wage increase over five years plus enhanced retirement and medical benefits, and put the average 2025 lineman salary at $243,569 including overtime.
The strike pulls linemen, gas technicians, mechanics and call-center staff off duty during a holiday weekend and heat wave, though PECO says contingency plans will keep electric and gas service running.
A federal mediator has been assigned but PECO says the union has not agreed to participate; state senators and local contractors have publicly backed the workers and pledged not to cross picket lines.