Union spokesman: No agreement to end strike | Philly

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Thursday, November 5, 2009

Union spokesman: No agreement to end strike

Rumors that striking SEPTA workers will be returning to the job are false, according to a spokesman for Transportation Workers Union Local 234. Bob Wolper, who handles media relations for the union, says a press conference scheduled for 5:30pm is not to announce a settlement.

“It's going to be an update on contract negotiations,” said Wolper. “And provide information on our meeting with the governor. It's pretty hard to have a settlement when we haven't even met with SEPTA today.”

The union will be meeting with Gov. Rendell at 4pm. A location for the meeting has not been announced.

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Posted by Ben Waxman @ 3:30 PM Permalink | 14 comments

Comments

Posted 03:46 PM, 11/05/2009

BrophyWilliams

There sure be a lot of "incidents & accidents" since the strike started.

Posted 04:10 PM, 11/05/2009

Tacklebury

So Septa management is not even involved in these discussions? This press conference from the union will be a joke "Wah wah wah we're the victims"

Posted 04:27 PM, 11/05/2009

BrocktonBoxers

Time to get rid of gov workers and the unions, they are breaking this country and making your children pay for their early retirements. I wish people would finally fight back, they need to be stopped. Stand up for your child, they do matter!

Posted 04:35 PM, 11/05/2009

chrissmith

Tom Corbett will be elected PA governor in 2010, guaranteed. People are really, really tired of all this nonsense.

Posted 04:42 PM, 11/05/2009

center city

brophy williams.....please they are just what they are called incidents & accidents.... ok...

Posted 04:43 PM, 11/05/2009

tonyS

Fire the union workers. All of them. They're a disgrace. And the bozo who's in charge of the union should be tarred and feathered.

Posted 04:58 PM, 11/05/2009

CleanupPhilly

I'm sorry, I have to agree with Brophy. To declare the electrical fire "accidental" and the accident that resulted in the death of the Septa employee just a coincidence before a full investigation has been completed by impartial, hopefully federal level investigators is a rush to judgment.

Posted 04:59 PM, 11/05/2009

CleanupPhilly

I'm disappointed that in all this time no one in the press has interviewed anyone from the NRLB (National Labor Relations Board) or a law firm that works on labor issues that is not involved with either side in the case to review the pertinent facts.

Posted 05:06 PM, 11/05/2009

CleanupPhilly

To "decertify" the union, for example, is not the only way in which Septa may be considered at at-will employer, it just is the way that would result in the weakest lawsuits by the union to protest that action. Septa can declare itself an at-will employer, after good faith negotiations have failed and are declared concluded by management, and there is still no contract after honest attempts. Septa may then hire and fire at will, and Mr. Brown is aware of that, which is why his claims of racial discrimination have figured so prominently, a grounds for an appeal of termination. But in fact, to decertify the union given the way in which the strike was called arguably using wildcat tactics, and the illegal activities the TWU has caused their members to engage in, such as depot blocking, would make it highly possible that a request to decertify or terminate the union would succeed. To see how to file a complaint against a union with the NLRB, see http://www.nlrb.gov/

Posted 05:08 PM, 11/05/2009

CleanupPhilly

Septa employees who are unhappy with Willie Brown and feel coerced can file a petition with the NLRB to remove the union with the NLRB. See: http://www.nlrb.gov/

Posted 05:21 PM, 11/05/2009

Goodhands

Yo Willie you Lost get back to work... Oh that right your a union rep you do no Work....

Posted 06:11 PM, 11/05/2009

brio

SEPTA=INEPTA

Posted 06:21 PM, 11/05/2009

Jamie Liberal

My wife and I are die hard liberal democrats and we support the SEPTA workers all the way. They deserve to get a 4% raise each year and shouldn't have to pay one more cent for their healthcare. All of you people who are knocking on these poor folks are a bunch of 9 to 5ers,work Mon thru Fri and off every weekend and every holiday. You 9 to 5ers should keep in mind when you're just waking up,SEPTA drivers are already at work and on the road to get your butts to work by 9am. The drivers that work the evening rush,the ones who have your butts hope by 6pm so you can spend evening time with your family,are getting off the job late night when you people are in bed asleep. Plus they have to work every weekend,every holiday and give up time with their families. My wife's cousin had to miss a wedding reception for his best friend because he had to work. He only had time to make the ceremony then off to SEPTA to work his route and when he told them he needed off for his friend's wedding,they flat out said no and that was not right he had to miss the reception. So We're with TWU 234, don't give up anything and to those saying they had to take pay cuts,stop voting for republicans and vote democrat and unite for more pay and health benefits to which we are all entitled to. Health benefits are a right,not a luxury.

Posted 06:22 PM, 11/05/2009

tazaddic

FIRE EM ALL AND HIRE PEOPLE WILLING TO WORK FOR THEIR LARGE PAY AND BENEFITS! AND RAISES EVERY YEAR!!!

14 comments

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EXCLUSIVE: UNION PRESIDENT SPEAKS OUT

It's Our Money's Ben Waxman interviews TWU Local 234 president Willie Brown on why he called the strike when he did, what it's like to be more hated than A-Rod, and what it will take the union to go back on the job. Click here to see the exclusive interview.

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