Think back to all the uproar late last year when the Nutter administration announced a billion dollars in cuts, without first seeking public input -- it was so loud, and so vitriolic, that the administration planned a series of in-depth public forums to guide its decision-making process when it was forced to cut another billion in the spring.
Contrast that with the ongoing transit worker contract negotiations. These, too, involve the public's money. And yet not only is public input not being sought by any party, it's not even clear that public opinion is a consideration (beyond the people who run SEPTA not wanting a humiliating disaster in south Philly tonight).
This is a common theme with contract negotiations. Last year, Daily News editorial page editor Sandra Shea wrote a post for It's Our Money about how the city wouldn't share the details of a proposed new health plan for city workers. She explained:
Typically, the standard for sunshine laws – those laws that regulate when meetings must be open—draw the line at employment information, deeming it too sensitive. We’re not interested in compromising the privacy of individual workers, but we don’t understand why this latest health proposal—as well as others in play as these negotiations drag on -- aren’t for public consumption.
Sandra and Ben Waxman subsequently had a face-off about the issue.
We actually do know a good amount about what the sides are asking for in this case. But it's occurred to me, as I follow SEPTA negotiation updates on Philly.com, that what outcome the public deems reasonable (again, beyond "no trains to the World Series") just isn't a factor. The dynamic is even more extreme than in Philly city worker contract negotiations, because at least in that case, most Philadelphians know who's responsible (the mayor). SEPTA is run by a confusing board. Ben was just commenting yesterday that he was tempted to call in to 610-WIP and explain to them that the mayor doesn't run the Authority.
I'm not sure how this could be changed -- I don't think you could could reasonably run a series of public forums about SEPTA contracts. But I do think it's an interesting aspect of the negotiations happening today.
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Comment removed.- Comment removed.
ryno5 69th street is its separate Union as the Frontier, out of Conshohocken, is part of TWU 234 as a division. I agree.
What happened to all the stimulus money?? Why isn't that being used to fund and improve SEPTA - And if they want more riders, why don't they try lowering prices and Increasing service instead of the other way around.— flyersfan74- Comment removed.
- Actually the workers are negotiating with the Septa board...15 people of which only 2 are from Philadelphia, 5 at from the state and 8 are from the suburbs...ever wonder why the train workers union that operate in the burbs never goes out on strike??— spab94
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- "I don't think you could could reasonably run a series of public forums about SEPTA contracts." Sure you could. Why on earth not? The zoning code commission is holding hearings on the zoning code, and that stuff is a lot more arcane than a contract. You'd get the usual smattering of amateur policy wonks and concerned citizens, plus a few folks with an axe to grind and some from way out in left field [meaning generally nutty, not politically left/right]. You don't have to ask the public to line-edit a contract in order to get useful feedback. And besides, like the website says: It's Our Money.
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- Progressivepat do you have any facts to back up your statements or are they as correct as your spelling?— zbskrn
- How about throwing away the Transfers and getting Smart cards mexico city had paperless Transactions 35 years ago... as does Buenos aires Paris london Nyc santiago..Miami atlanta etc...— Philly-d-kidder
- right on progressivepat! your the 1st person on here in days that has something impartial to say.and for zbskrn i work for septa and have plenty of facts to back up the waste through out this system! and no the facts are not being fed to me by the union. you do the math 9% over 5 years and nothing in the 1% year and raise medical co-pay to 4% but that includes the first year.that comes out to 20% so what your saying is we should take a contract where were gonna take a pay cut over 5 years!are you kidding me? and just a small example of the great management team at septa they sent out for bids for medical coverage and went with the highest bidder for the same exact coverage! maybe you people should stop bashing the employees and the union for trying to get the best contract we can.it's not like we work for chrysler and ready to close down and we're asking for this!it's ok the ecomomy is bad baseball players hitting .250 are making millions and so does the owners(billions) and they want $500.00 for standing room only! they're the greedy scum you all should screaming about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And i love sports! watching the phillies right now!— vbos555
- the phillies or management is not charging 500 for sro..that would be individuals on ticket broker agencies and the agencies themselves.— savetheNE
- SEPTA is a greedy corp? there are plenty of stupid ideas out there but that one takes the cake. clearly the union is the greedy entity, getting greedy on the backs of hardworking taxpayers— dreinterests
- Unions and their pensions/cadillac health plans have robbed American taxpayers and crippled our urban areas. We need elected officials to fire these crooks and find replacement workers.— supervish
MONEY AND JUSTICE DON'T MIX
WILL THE NEW COUNCIL GIVE YOU A SAY?
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