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Monday, November 2, 2009

How did Rendell and Brady prevent the SEPTA strike?

When Congressman Bob Brady and other politicians stepped in to help prevent a transit strike during the World Series, I couldn't help but think: Haven't I seen this movie before? It seems like every time public sector workers strike or threaten to strike, elected officials -- ones who aren't party to the negotiations -- appear at the last minute to broker a compromise.

In this most recent example: SEPTA management was refusing to sign off on increased wages and workers were threatening to walk out during the World Series. Gov. Ed Rendell, Mayor Michael Nutter, and Brady convinced both parties to stay at the bargaining table and avoided stranding thousands of fans in South Philly.

I found myself wondering exactly how this works. Why are officials like Brady and Gov. Rendell able to find a resolution when management and workers seem so far apart? What special magic gets worked behind closed doors?

To find out more, I spoke with John Braxton, who is the president of the faculty union at Community College of Philadelphia. Back in 2007, professors at CCP went on strike for two weeks. They returned to the classroom only after Brady got involved in negotiations.

Braxton said Brady's contribution was simple: He found additional public dollars to pay for the union's demands.

“What he did with us was actually say, 'What's the difference between your proposal and management's proposal?'” Braxton told me. “In our case, the difference was that over five years we wanted $800,000 more in wages than management was proposing.”

That was too much for CCP, but it wasn't insurmountable for Brady. The congressman started working the phones and found a way to end the strike.

“[Brady] actually went to the governor and other state officials, and said, 'Does this money exist somewhere?'” said Braxton. “The governor said yes. He was able to supply a different source of money that hadn't been found. We ended up getting an additional bonus. Brady and the governor did make it possible for both sides to say we got what we needed.”

At first glance, this might appear irrelevant to what happened with SEPTA this weekend: To the best of our knowledge, the state didn't pony up additional dollars to prevent a strike. But when Gov. Rendell ordered both sides to stay at the table through the beginning of the World Series, he was threatening to do the reverse-- to cut off state funding in the event of a strike. Just like with the CCP strike, when the people who control the money started talking, everybody listened.

Also on IOM today: Managing Director Camille Barnett on 3-1-1 (not) replacing Council and Every time the government tries to raise taxes or tolls, the relevant agency turns up in a scandal.

Review city services on our sister site, City Howl.
Posted by Ben Waxman @ 3:05 PM  Permalink | 15 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:25 PM, 11/02/2009
    This is why Brady is toxic.
    — CleanupPhilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:16 PM, 11/02/2009
    This is why Brady is the BEST! He avoided yet another strike! CleanupPhilly: Do you like strikes? Get a life!
    — jnixon05
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:17 PM, 11/02/2009
    Not sure, but it appears Brady's role in this negotiations is to just say, "What do you want unions, and I will get tax money to fund your demands." And misappropriating tax money is seen as great negotiation skills. This is my favorite quote of the entire article and clearly shows why we are so far in debt as a state: "“[Brady] actually went to the governor and other state officials, and said, 'Does this money exist somewhere?'” said Braxton. “The governor said yes. He was able to supply a different source of money that hadn't been found. We ended up getting an additional bonus."
    — reddog44
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:41 PM, 11/02/2009
    "Does this money exist somewhere?" Yes. In the pockets and bank accounts of this states population. Which to politicians like Brady means that taxes can be raised, current revenue can be wasted, and the cycle of wasteful government spending can be repeated. Just so SEPTA cashiers can continue to make $50k a year to not make change, sell tokens, or even put on a friendly smile for the customers they refuse to acknowledge.
    — Ratiocinational
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:54 PM, 11/02/2009
    Personally, as long as I'm paying sales tax, state income tax, and city wage tax, I'm a fan of having that money spent on (among other things) a transit system operated by well-trained folks who are making a good living for their families. How about y'all?
    — Ph.D. in shutting suckas down
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:58 PM, 11/02/2009
    The SEPTA workers in the booth are the worst. Absolutely no purpose for them and last week there were four (two each in the booths Northbound and Southbound). We just can't afford this kind of waste anymore.
    — bob19103
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:10 PM, 11/02/2009
    so you rob Peter to pay Paul to get some headlines? would like to know the original offer and what the Mayor had to say.
    — PaulDeon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:10 PM, 11/02/2009
    so you rob Peter to pay Paul to get some headlines? would like to know the original offer and what the Mayor had to say.
    — PaulDeon
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:22 PM, 11/02/2009
    Great post, Ben. We need to undo this idea that certain individuals are the only ones with the "mystique" to solve problems. Presumably there are others who could have done the same calculus and worked to bridge that gap.
    — akelsey
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:24 PM, 11/02/2009
    Why should somebody be entitled to a job, raises, bonuses, etc and then NOT be held accountable for their performance?
    — motoedde3
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:21 PM, 11/02/2009
    Vote Republican governor in 2010!! This nonsense has to stop!! "Does this money exist somewhere?" Huh!!?? Yeah, it exists in the pockets of taxpayers!!!
    — chrissmith
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:43 PM, 11/02/2009
    Fear,thats how it was settled the pols are afraid of the union striking during the series
    — bobg1812
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:05 PM, 11/02/2009
    The construction unions all got their increases in their last go around; now half the union is out of work. It takes great leadership to price your membership out of a job..
    — ritaf


15 comments
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