I guess he was only "doing his job" by causing an unnecessary strike that crippled the city, caused people to miss work, lose pay, miss medical appointments, causing ill will toward his membership - only to then accept nearly the SAME contract on the table before this mess began.

As the governor said only 24 hours before - it was madness. Mr. Governor and Mr. Mayor, despite your best efforts (likely prompted by Rep. Brady), Mr. Brown has been exposed as a self-aggrandizing, belligerent man with little skill in the art of negotiation who did a major disservice to his membership.

His transparent attempts to seem "tough" were apparently just a calculated effort to get himself re-elected to his union post. He caused hundreds of thousands of people a great deal of pain for his personal advancement. I really hope the union membership does remember him and his slate of officers in that election - for their lack of skill, their missteps and for accepting the same contract.

Charles Richardson, Philadelphia

The union, pro & con

Re columnist Ronnie Polaneczky's tirade against unions (Nov. 7, "Frustrated Commuters Deride Strikers"):

Without a union, workers have no way of addressing any grievances with their employer. It is not in the interests of the employer to do so.

If citizens are incensed about their insufficient income or lack of a job, instead of venting at fellow workers who had the good sense to join a union, they should consider that the decline in unions has been good for employers - not the public.

G. Djata Bumpus, Philadelphia

Thank you, Ronnie, for the very appropriate article on the SEPTA strike. The way they "pulled out" was demeaning to every man, woman and child who depends on the transit service to survive.

I wish that the very first day they return to work, all buses, trolleys, els and subway trains would be EMPTY for an entire 24 hours. I wish that we could all sent a message to SEPTA that this time we, too, mean business.

It will never ever happen, and I understand that there are some people who would not be able to do it. But what a hardship it is on the people who paid for passes but could not use regional rail lines due to a lack of transportation to even get to a regional train.

It is truly a disgrace at this time for any company to strike. The poor riding public is caught in the middle with no other option but to wait until that fat man sings so the strike can be over! This was a most awful decision and, of course, now he admits it? Who cares? The damage is already done!

Ajay Jones, Philadelphia

Ouch!

The next time someone complains about spending dollars on Philadelphia's public schools, just say, "Willie Brown."

Mayer Krain

Philadelphia