SEPTA workers on strike at the Southern Depot. (Sarah J. Glover / Staff Photographer)
Transit strikes always burden commuters, but the timing of today’s walkout by SEPTA employees was especially unfair.
Transport Workers Union Local 234 went on strike at 3 a.m. with virtually no warning to the traveling public. More than 5,000 train operators, bus drivers, and mechanics did not report to work, shutting down all subway, bus, and trolley service in the city and bus lines in some suburbs.
That action left many people who must travel to and from work before dawn without any options. It was a cavalier way to treat loyal customers who depend on SEPTA to get to work or school.
The union had authorized a strike a week ago, but many people went to bed Monday night believing a walkout had been averted. The union had agreed under pressure from Gov. Rendell and other elected leaders not to strike during the World Series. But three hours after Game 5 ended in South Philly, the union walked.
So it was strike three for many working stiffs — a waitress trying to ride the Market-Frankford El to her job at a diner in Old City; hospital workers in Center City trying to get home after an overnight shift; a woman who was stranded on the first day of her new job. It was the same for tens of thousands of other riders like them, many of whom don’t earn as much as the average SEPTA employee ($52,000).
The strike began on a federal holiday when city schools were closed. Otherwise, the commuter chaos would have been even worse. But it also came on Election Day, making it more difficult for some people to vote before 8 p.m.
As of late Monday, there was no word of a settlement, raising the prospect of an uglier commute on Tuesday.
SEPTA’s largest union had been working without a contract since March. Neither Local 234 nor the transit agency should have allowed the impasse to drag on this long. It took the threat of a strike during the nationally televised showcase of the World Series to get negotiators closer to a deal.
As for SEPTA’s offer, it hardly seems like the kind of affront that would spark a walkout, especially in these tough economic times. Rendell said SEPTA proposed a $1,250 signing bonus upon ratification, a 2.5-percent raise the second year, and 3-percent raises in each of the next three years. The union is asking for raises of 4 percent annually and improved work rules.
SEPTA also offered to increase pension payments to workers (the union contends SEPTA has chronically underfunded its pension plan), and not to increase employees’ health-insurance contributions, now at 1 percent.
To many workers out there, and to a legion of the unemployed, such terms sound like a dream, not a reason to ambush commuters with a citywide shutdown of transportation services. If it hasn’t, the union should return to the bargaining table with that in mind.
A strike is unfair? How about management dragging their feet to get a contract done last spring when it was up?— Mark Chalupa- Wow. $52,000 to push a lever forward or punch a ticket. Why did I spend $150,000 on education again? Absolutely disgusting that these Septic employees are complaining.— Ezatnova
- Come on, guys, check your facts. Today is Tuesday, not Monday, and it is not a federal holiday.— PHL87
- The economy is in the tank, ridership is down, unemployment is up and the strikers have the nerve to walk out? Over the summer our company had everyone take two weeks of unpaid vacation. There were no bonuses or raises. While I didn't like it, I love my job and get paid a decent salary. I did what everyone else I know did in the same situation- I sucked it up, grew a pair, and kept working my tail off. Striking in the middle of the night was an act of cowardice. By striking, employees selfishly left thousands of their fellow citizens high and dry- citizens who need to get to work, school, doctors etc. Governor Rendell should give the strikers 24 hours to return to work or face the fate of the air traffic controllers via Reagan. There are no doubt plenty of people who can be trained to drive buses (not to mention the already unemployed folks who can do this) and do any other job the strikers choose to abandon.— CurleyQLink
- A surprise strike without warning is absolutely unfair to the riding public. It's like the cook spitting in your food because he's angry at his boss for not giving him a raise.— PhillyKen
Comment removed.- So it was not even put before the rank & file for a vote? Even if management dragged its heels, turning down a raise in the midst of a depression (call it what it is) is insanity. People with more critical skills dont gets raises in this bad economy and many are out of work. 1% medical costs? Count your blessings and accept the deal. Karma is a b###ch and you ruined yours.— Steelmanpa
- WOOO THEY ARE A ROUGH LOOKING BUNCH LOL. IM SORRY.. THE PICTURE COMPLETELY THREW ME OFF TOPIC.— haneefah22
- It's not unfair it's despicable, fire them all. they don't deserve their jobs back.— dreinterests
- SEPTA drivers make 52,000 dollars a year plus benefits??? For driving a freaking bus? I cant believe that's where all my taxes go.— Rantanplan
- Fire them all! I'm sorry, but hospital workers were laid off, Philadelphia school teachers are still making McDonald's money and the plumbers union is dire straights. Fire them all!— Tristamust
Unless the administration finds the courage to bust this union, we will always be held hostage to these thugs. Any who uses SEPTA knows full well they don't like the public, never have, and never will.- Striking was for the fifties, sixties and seventies to get proper representation, benefits and training programs. Today, it is simply for greed. The lady who keeps posting on here says we do not know that they make Septa workers stay on their job past their scheduled end time. So what. You show me someone leaving work exactly at their end time today and I'll show you someone headed for the unemployment line. What does an 11% salary increase have to do with being kept after work. They already get overtime pay. Try a salaried job where you have to put in an extra 10 hours a week for no pay. Stop the whining. 1% healthcare is disgusting, even the people who work for Blue Cross pay higher than that.— mikeyg
- I agree with the majority here-- they deserve to be fired for violating public safety with no warning. Enough with the whining about how tough they have it.I agree with Curley Q -- fire them and we can immediately fix the unemployment problem in the city with folks who would be grateful for a portion of what these jerks get now. Mayor Nutter -- go for it and show this union that it's not a free ride at the public's expense. We're choked enough!— catsrule
- Hey if you can get away with it...........sheet..... they shoulda demanded 10% and 3 day work weeks........whats the diff......economic conditions dont mean sheet...... entitlement is all the rage right now anyway......— ILUVPHILLYCITYOFLOSERS
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