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Friday, October 30, 2009
Gov. Rendell: Transit Strike Would Be A "Black Eye" For City

Gov. Rendell just urged the Transport Workers Union, Local 234, to drop the threat of a strike this weekend if it is still making progress with SEPTA in negotiations for a new contract.  Rendell said a strike while national attention is focused on the World Series games being played here by the Phillies and Yankees would be "a little bit of black eye" for the city but produce no real gains for the union since the series shifts back to New York City -- if necessary -- next week.

"This is a great opportunity for the city to shine in these next three days," Rendell said of the series, with games scheduled at Citizens Bank Park tomorrow, Sunday and Monday.  "It's not like the union can get leverage by doing this because the leverage goes away in three days. By the time the weekend is over, the leverage is gone. All they do is give the city a little bit of a black eye."

Rendell said he has not been asked to intervene in the contract dispute but would be happy to do so if asked.  Here's a run-down of what SEPTA services would be impacted by a TWU Local 234 strike.

Posted by Chris Brennan @ 12:49 PM  Permalink | 24 comments
Comments   
Posted 01:08 PM, 10/30/2009
robentcorp
I am with Fast Eddie, don't pull this stunt while the country is watching.
Posted 01:13 PM, 10/30/2009
phillyfansrdumb
but what will the union get in return from septa if they act in and continue to negoiate in good faith once the strike is over. i'll bet the same all you tools got from you're employers once they finished pillaging the company and shipping us jobs overseas.
Posted 01:22 PM, 10/30/2009
Peacemaker
Says the guy who IS "a black eye for the city".
Posted 01:26 PM, 10/30/2009
Lori T.
Why isn't Nutter saying something to SEPTA about the fact that it refused to negotiate SINCE MARCH with the union? And if I was a union member, which I am not, why would I give up the ONE THING that seems to motivate SEPTA to make a good faith negotiation? Septa has shown it cannot negotiate in good faith and this date was picked before the Phillies were even confirmed as being in the world series. What did Septa do to avoid this?
Posted 01:28 PM, 10/30/2009
krapug1
The best thing that Major League Baseball can do is pull the World Series back to New York for the weekend. This Union is a TOTAL, UGLY joke, and if these dogs dare call for a strike, they should be sued and then some. Once again we have the opportunity to show off our city to the nation and beyond. A transit strike would not only make us look stupid, but cost us business big time. I still can't get my trade group to consider Philly for even a regional meeting since the Subway Concourse Murder.
Posted 01:35 PM, 10/30/2009
manly
Maybe they can pick 3 union guys and 3 septa guys and field them as umpires this weekend.. Gotta be better that what major baseball puts out there...
Posted 01:37 PM, 10/30/2009
ryphilly8507
Hopefully the city revolts on the union and finds a way to push them out, SEPTA is taken over by the city, and our transit system isn't held back any longer by the constraints of the outdated model of a labor union.
Posted 01:42 PM, 10/30/2009
longshanks
Septa is already a black eye on the city. But at this point, the city has so many black eyes that it suffers from a permanent concussion. Replace the low class mentality and people with some class and professionalism and perhaps the city could evolve for the better.
Posted 01:55 PM, 10/30/2009
Connie Ashenfelder
This is my problem, if I did nothing for SIX MONTHS I'd be out the door in nothing flat. Yet another case of a "set of rules for me and a set of rules for everyone else"! SEPTA/TWU are pros at "hurry up and wait!" And the black eyes? They are all over the region thanks to these guys!
Posted 02:05 PM, 10/30/2009
TomSmith
The courts should order them to work through Monday, then the city should bring down the hammer and make em show what they're packing. Unions are a disgrace, Philadelphia unions are just pathetic relics still hanging on to the Democrat machine. If people would wake up and get rid of the Dems we'd all be better off. No offense Nutter.. I actually think you're doing a good job (wanna switch parties? *nudge nudge*)
Posted 02:08 PM, 10/30/2009
nuggett
Big Deal Eddie.....You were in bed with the unions when you were here....so YOU are part of the problem......you were a fraud mayor Ed
Posted 02:20 PM, 10/30/2009
DonQ
The crucial point in contract talks is that negotiations be done in good faith. A threat of a strike on a weekend of national attention to the city is bad will as bad as it gets.
Posted 02:24 PM, 10/30/2009
dreinterests
union isn't even at the table, they should be forced back to work "With strike looming, union delays SEPTA talks" http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/news_breaking/20091030_With_strike_looming__union_delays_SEPTA_talks.html
Posted 02:45 PM, 10/30/2009
jfar86
If they strike during the world series, everybody who fails to show up for work should be fired and replaced with somebody who appreciates the opportunity to work. Septa wages average $52,000 per year, and many of these people have no qualifications other than a drivers license. By contrast, an assistant district attorney who pays for 4 years of college, 3 years of law school, is required to live in the city, and routinely works more than 40 hours per week, earns a salary of approximately $45,000. There is simply no way that a bus driver should be paid more than an assistant district attorney.
Posted 03:02 PM, 10/30/2009
hows that hope & change working out?
Fire them all. SEPTA is one of the worst, and most expensive, public transportation systems in the country.
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About Chris Brennan and Catherine Lucey
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002. Since then she has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. For the past two years, she covered the 2007 mayoral election. Now that the battle is over, she has moved down to the City Hall bureau where she will report on the Nutter administration.

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