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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Nutter talks tough on SEPTA strike

Mayor Michael Nutter generally doesn't comment on union negotiations, but that hasn't stopped him from blasting SEPTA workers for going on strike. In an Inquirer article that appeared yesterday, Nutter slammed the union for walking off the job.

"It was an ambush of the citizens and the riding public," Nutter said. "No one saw this coming. Everyone was caught off guard here."

He also criticized the union for rejecting an offer made by SEPTA late on Tuesday night. According to him, the contract proposed by management was more than fair.

Nutter and Rendell, who prevailed on the TWU not to strike during World Series games in Philadelphia, criticized union leaders for turning down what the governor called a "sensational" contract in tough economic times.

"If the workers were presented with that deal yesterday, I have no doubt it would have been accepted," Nutter said. "No one, no one, no one, has that kind of deal sitting in front of them right now. It's insane."

Finally, Nutter had harsh words for the union leadership. He said that the process was disorganized and that labor leader Willie Brown was ineffective.

Nutter said, "The parameters kept changing. It's difficult to negotiate when you don't know what the key points are and who's making the decisions."

What do you think? Do you agree with Mayor Nutter? Is he doing enough to end the strike?

Review city services on our sister site, City Howl.
Posted by Ben Waxman @ 8:56 AM  Permalink | 5 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:30 AM, 11/04/2009
    The benefits tn the table for SEPTA's workers are enviable. I think with the fact that SEPTA employees provide a service that cannot be replicated at this point, they have the riding public and management right where they want us. The tough talk by Mayor Nutter only strengthened the union's resolve. What will City workers, who have not had a contract since June 1st, 2009 do? I definitely don't think it will be a strike.
    — MezikeB
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:03 AM, 11/04/2009
    Maybe he should lease the Broad St subway to PATCO. the city owns the cars and tunnel, why not? at least we could function with the subway, not well, but the people who don't live off regional rail and live far away are totally screwed. Nutter's right, everyone knows the union is wrong.
    — dreinterests
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:11 AM, 11/04/2009
    Rendell and Nutter should take the $6 million out of the contract unless they go back to work and back to the table for negotiations. If they walk again, it is gone for good and so are their jobs. The State can take over and fire everyone and replace the workers, there are many people who have licenses to fill the positions. At least the El and Broad St subway should be running not matter what.
    — concerns25
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:20 AM, 11/04/2009
    Good job Mike. Septa, fire these cretins immediately.
    — journalismIsDead
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:46 AM, 11/04/2009
    I feel that neither Nutter nor Rendell can be trusted to explain financial details accurately or honestly. For over a year both of them have used the nation's economic crisis as a hammer for the budget whim of the day: close libraries, bring table games, the list goes on. But they have not used the crisis to educate the public about the full options available to make things better (such as meaningful healthcare reform that would remove the budget burden of private health insurance for public employees, 20% of those premiums are profit for the insurance companies). So at this moment I support the transit workers. They have difficult jobs for relatively low salaries and they are responsible for the safety of passengers and non-passengers in vicinity of any large SEPTA vehicle. Also, it would be useful to provide the pay raises at the start of the contracts because during economic downturns it is sound economic policy to put more money in the hands of low to moderate income workers because it helps support the economy. Plus, the city and SEPTA both have more money available to them from the Recovery Act but we've recently learned that the city cannot manage to administrate those funds properly to put them in use. If this strike goes on as long as 1998's, then I might feel differently. But right now I support the transit workers. If Wall St can get billion dollar bonuses for showing up to work in nice suits and bankrupting the country, then transit workers can get decent wages and benefits for actually providing vital services.
    — MB6


5 comments
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