As hundreds of thousands of commuters and schoolchildren braced for a second day without public transit, Gov. Rendell and Mayor Nutter chastised union leaders for calling the surprise predawn strike.
With most SEPTA buses, subways and trolleys idled, thousands of extra riders yesterday crammed onto Regional Rail trains, forcing widespread delays, especially during the evening rush hour. Many others took to their cars, snarling traffic throughout the region.
Negotiations could resume today between SEPTA and striking Transport Workers Union Local 234, which represents about 5,100 SEPTA vehicle operators and mechanics. The workers went on strike at 3 a.m. yesterday.
"It was an ambush of the citizens and the riding public," Nutter said. "No one saw this coming. Everyone was caught off guard here."
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."
Local president Willie Brown said the major reasons for the strike were disagreements over increased pension contributions from workers, job "picking" rights, and the length of the contract. He said the union wanted 3 percent wage increases for each year of a four-year contract.
"I understand I'm the most hated man in Philadelphia right now," Brown said. "I have no problem with that."
Rendell said the five-year contract spurned by TWU leaders called for a $1,250 signing bonus upon ratification, a 2.5 percent raise the second year, and a 3 percent raise in each of the next three years.
It also called for an increase in pension payments to workers and no increase in their health-insurance contributions.
Rendell said he had agreed to give SEPTA $6 million from an economic development fund in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to help pay for the contract sweeteners.
"The union leadership walked on a victory last night," Rendell said yesterday. "They just didn't know when to declare victory."
Brown said he had gone against his union's best interests by acquiescing on Friday to the request of Rendell and Nutter not to strike during the Series.
"The smart thing to do would have been to say, 'We're going out,' " Brown said. "My workers wanted me to go. But I didn't. I'm a Philadelphian, too."
Once the threat of a strike during the Series evaporated, Brown said, Rendell and Nutter grew increasingly inflexible: "They were kicking us around like we were the prime cans of the world."
Brown said Nutter's biggest concern was that the SEPTA contract would set a pattern for city workers, including police and firefighters. Brown argued that SEPTA was in better financial condition than the city and could afford a more generous settlement.
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."
No talks were held yesterday, as hundreds of thousands of riders scrambled to find alternate ways to and from work and school.
Rendell, Nutter, and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D., Pa.) were involved in the talks until they broke off early yesterday. Rendell, who said he had slept little for the last three nights and missed Game 5 of the World Series because of the negotiations, said he was willing to continue to work with both sides.
"All the movement was on the management side," said Rendell.
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