The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has reached agreement with Teamsters bargaining units on a new four-year contract covering 1,769 union employees, including toll collectors.

South Side-based Teamsters Local 250 and Philadelphia area-based Teamsters Local 77 voted 940-137 in favor of the new pact, retroactive to Oct. 1. A separate Local 77 bargaining unit covering office workers at the turnpike's administrative headquarters near Harrisburg approved its contract by a 50-0 vote.

"We had our differences, but we sat down like gentlemen and reached agreement," turnpike Chief Executive Officer Joe Brimmeier said yesterday. "I'm happy, they're happy and it's a responsible deal for everyone."

The two sides bargained under a 30-day extension of the previous contract that expired at midnight Sept. 30.

The negotiations represented a dramatic difference from 2003, when a settlement took more than a year, a war of words escalated into an impasse and the Teamsters struck the 531-mile toll road system for seven days, including the 2004 Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Senior toll collectors who now earn $20.29 an hour will see their wages increase by 50 cents an hour retroactive to Oct. 1, 60 cents next year, and 65 cents in both 2009 and 2010. Other hourly employees including equipment operators will see similar hikes.

The contract means that top collectors will be earning $22.69 four years from now, or $907.60 a week, excluding overtime and premium pay.

Other contract highlights covering all union members include:

• 15 paid holidays a year, 10 days of annual sick leave and four weeks of vacation after 16 years of service.

• Fully paid health insurance under a less expensive Preferred Provider Organization plan administered by the turnpike rather than an indemnity plan as in the past. The PPO calls for higher co-pays and deductibles. The cost for out-of-network services will be higher;

• Guaranteed job security. While the overall size of the work force may decrease, as it has by about 150 jobs over the past four years, the decrease will be attained through attrition.

Mr. Brimmeier said the package will be "revenue neutral," meaning that the savings from fewer workers, the PPO plan and new rules permitting turnpike management to utilize more part-time personnel will offset costs from higher wages.

More than a half-million vehicles travel the Pennsylvania Turnpike and its extensions on an average weekday -- about 450,000 cars and 70,000 trucks.