“Two thirty-four,” chanted members of Philadelphia’s local transportation workers union as they clutched picket signs Monday night, preparing for a strike against SEPTA that could happen as early as Friday morning.

“WHO?” shouted a man in a bass voice. Came the reply, “Two thirty-four.”

Contract talks have yet to reach a new deal, and several workers said they were determined to do whatever needed to be done to ensure a safer workplace amid an increase in assaults and harassment from angry, upset or disturbed people. They also want a raise.

“We don’t want to go out, but we have to get up,” said Bob Gillespie, a 30-year Northeast SEPTA bus operator. “We have to stand up for what we believe. Hopefully we can work this out.”

” READ MORE: What you need to know about a possible SEPTA strike

With approximately 5,000 members, Local 234 represents bus, subway and trolley operators, mechanics, cashiers, maintenance men and custodians. It is SEPTA’s largest bargaining unit.

Union members voted last week to authorize a strike as soon as Fridayafter their current contract expires at midnight – and named safety and security as the main issue. The vote does not mean the union would go immediately.

Leaders of TWU Local 234 and DC 33, which represent about 9,000 workers in the city, met last week to discuss the possibility of scheduling strikes together, first reported by KYW. The city union did not authorize a strike, although members worked no contract since July when their last deal expired.

SEPTA said it is “committed to negotiating in good faith” and to a fair settlement. But the agency also says it is constrained by financial uncertainty and has offered a one-year contract without a raise, compared to the 10% the union is seeking.

The agency faces a $240 million shortfall that could soon bring service cuts and a second rate hikewith no action in Harrisburg on state aid for public transit systems.

Despite a overall crime reduction Riders have continued to face violent attacks on the transit system this year — a teenager was shot inside a bus early last month, and a gunman opened fire on another bus days later.

“A lot of people get screwed,” said Malikah Askia, 44, a teller at the Broad Street line for two decades. “They need to be held accountable,” she said. “You can’t hurt us and think it’s okay.”

Although SEPTA has increased its transit police force, more officers are needed, the union says. Union members said they have yet to see ballistic vests, bulletproof compartments for bus and trolley operators and other safety changes that SEPTA pledged to work on during contract negotiations last year.

“So it has to be more than what you say you’re going to do, not lip service,” Askia said. “We need you to really do it. This is important to us. We have to get home to our families.”

SEPTA is known as one of the most prone major transit systems in the country. Since 1975, at least 11 unions have walked off the job. last year, SEPTA cops struck for three days in December after working without a contract for nine months.