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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Why was Nutter involved in SEPTA negotiations?

Anthony's post on Mayor Michael Nutter being “cut off” from negotiations between TWU and SEPTA prompted Isaiah Thompson to ask the mayor's office for a response.* Here's the answer he got:

The Mayor was only involved because he was asked to participate in the discussions. To the extent that his participation is helpful, he's willing to participate. If his participation is problematic, he's willing to stay out of the discussions. It's always been the Mayor's position that his number one obligation is to the 1.5 million people who are trying to manage their way through this TWU strike.

There should be no reason why the negotiations can't move forward. But with a deal like the one that was offered (11% wage increases over five years and no increase in contributions to healthcare) during a time when so many people are taking pay decreases and even losing their jobs, one can't help but wonder why a deal wasn't struck already. Again, if the absence of the Mayor is the only thing needed to strike a deal, the Mayor is more than happy to allow the negotiations to continue without his involvement.

What do you think? Would negotiations be hurt or helped by having Nutter involved? Is the Mayor doing everything he should to end the strike?

*this line has been updated. We initially thought Isaiah asked a more specific question than he did.

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Posted by Ben Waxman @ 6:53 PM  Permalink | 12 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:15 PM, 11/04/2009
    I don't get it. It's a strike between labor and management. If both sides feel they need help to reach a resolution, they should seek the services of a professional mediator, right? Why would anyone in their right mind seek the involvement of an elected official that obviously has his/her own interests (to at least get publicity about it)? In fact, many of the SEPTA board members are political appointees, so why in the world would the union agree to any politician being a mediator? http://www.septa.com/inside/board/members.html
    — NotADoneDeal
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:47 PM, 11/04/2009
    Labor and management have their own interests, and only theirs, at heart. The mayor and governor are involved because they're the only ones looking out for us, the riding public. The fact that we are customers of the transit system means nothing to the workers or management. Otherwise they would have found a way to negotiate while keeping the system running.
    — BlairW
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:52 PM, 11/04/2009
    The City of Philadelphia owns the Broad Street Subway and its vehicles. It also owns other property and vehicles used by SEPTA. The majority of SEPTA's riders either live or work in Philadelphia. Most of our high school students use SEPTA to get to school. The City provides millions in financial support to SEPTA. SEPTA's contract negotiations are very much Mayor Nutter's business.
    — Daniel Hoffman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:58 PM, 11/04/2009
    Nutter was taking his cues from Uncle Eddie and if you think he has your best interest in mind you've been duped
    — bobg1812
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:59 PM, 11/04/2009
    Nutter Nuttin' at it again. Losing the edge and not making a difference in Philadelphia for the better.
    — Clark_Kent_SuperHero
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:40 PM, 11/04/2009
    Nutter clearly made the situation worse. If he had the best interest of the citizens of Philadelphia in mind he wouldn't have put so much energy into giving out misinformation on the strikers. He should be ashamed of himself. Blaming others for his mistakes seems to be a theme for him.
    — phillypapers
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:08 PM, 11/04/2009
    Who cares? The Septa Union is so out of touch it isn't even funny. They are made that their pension fund is low which is because of the stock market. Maybe we should all go on strike because our 401k are low..
    — Conshy04
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:41 PM, 11/04/2009
    John, welcome to the light. It's better over here.
    — BlairW
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:26 AM, 11/05/2009
    Nutter should walk in and say, the only way you get a deal is you put in the contact that you will never strike again or else you all lose your jobs. If not, you'll never work here again.
    — whiplash240
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:37 AM, 11/05/2009
    Nutter will commission a study on it, then study the study.
    — Mark Chalupa


12 comments
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