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TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer

On the second day of his union's strike against SEPTA, TWU Local 234 president Willie Brown says "the key issue is pensions and how worker pensions will be funded."

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Governor seeks end to SEPTA strike

By Paul Nussbaum

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Seeking an end to the two-day-old SEPTA strike, Gov. Rendell is to talk today with SEPTA officials and tomorrow with union leaders.

Willie Brown, president of Transport Workers Local 234, said he welcomed Rendell's intervention, but he blasted Mayor Nutter as a "little Caesar" who would not be welcomed back to the negotiating table.

Brown said the striking bus drivers, subway and trolley operators and mechanics would "stay out as long as it takes to secure our pension."

SEPTA's funding of the workers' pensions has become the main sticking point in negotiations over a contract that Rendell yesterday described as "sensational."

The five-year contract offer from SEPTA included 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 no increase in the workers' health-insurance contributions, which is 1 percent of base pay. It called for an increase in workers' contributions to their pensions, as well as in increase in the maximum pension payment to retirees.

SEPTA general manager Joseph Casey today challenged Brown and the TWU leadership to present the SEPTA offer to the union members.

"I guarantee you it would be ratified by the membership, if not unanimously, then overwhelmingly," Casey said. "It's an extremely generous contract."

Casey and Rendell are to speak by phone today. The governor will speak to union leaders tomorrow, Rendell spokesman Gary Tuma said.

"He's going to keep working on it," Tuma said.

Brown said Rendell's offer to give SEPTA $6 million from an economic development fund in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to help pay for the contract sweeteners gave him clout in the negotiations.

On the other hand, Brown said, "Mayor Nutter has brought nothing to the table but dissension." Brown said he would not meet with the mayor.

Nutter's press secretary, Douglas Oliver, said, "Even if he [Brown] doesn't respect the mayor, he should at least respect school children, seniors, job seekers and the countless other people who are being negatively impacted by this labor action. Instead of hurling personal attacks, the public would be best served if Mr. Brown stayed focused on a speedy return to the negotiating table and an even speedier end to this strike."

Brown said the union wants SEPTA to increase funding of the workers' pension fund, which he said is currently funded at about 52 percent of its payment obligations. By contrast, he said, management's pension fund was funded at nearly 90 percent.

Casey acknowledged that both union and management pension funds had lost money in the recent stock market downturn. He said the management pension fund was currently funded at about 70 percent of its liability.

He said the SEPTA contract proposal called for workers to increase their contribution to the pension fund from the current 2 percent of base pay to 3 percent of base pay in the third year of the contract and to 3.5 percent of base pay in the fourth year of the contract.

The SEPTA contract proposal would increase the maximum pension payout to retired workers with 30 years of service to $30,000 a year, from the current $27,000, an 11 percent increase. The increase would be smaller for those with fewer years of service.

Nutter today expressed continued frustration with the transit strike and the "tremendous hassle" it brings, though he said the city is "up and running."

"It appears that the normal mass transit riding public is trying to figure out how to deal with this situation," Nutter said around 11 a.m. this morning. "I think, again, folks are still a little bit shocked by the ambush from Tuesday morning, of not knowing that this was even going to happen."

Following a press conference with District Attorney-elect Seth Williams to congratulate Williams on his Election Day victory, Nutter asked riders to be "flexible" and patient, and urged both SEPTA and the Transit Workers Union to get back to negotiations.

"The only way this is going to get resolved is at a bargaining table, not out on a picket line, not at press conferences. Parties have to sit and talk, negotiate and make a commitment to stay there until this matter is resolved," Nutter said.

Nutter made a point to reject the union's contention that it delayed a strike because of the World Series. Nutter said he and the governor only injected themselves into negotiations at the parties' request on Friday night, and that it made no sense for Rendell to be there with the union threatening to strike.

"If you're going to ask the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the fifth-largest state in America, to stay actively involved in these negotiations, then he at least deserves the respect, that as long as he's involved in these negotiations, you will tell the public that a strike is off the table," Nutter said, describing the point he made to union officials on Saturday.

"This was not about the World Series. It's about disruption to the riding public, this is about kids trying to get to school, about seniors trying to go to a doctor. It's about people trying to get to their primary care physician, or possibly to an emergency room because of H1N1 health issues," Nutter said. "The World Series was going to come and go. The 900,000 some-odd trips that take place on the SEPTA system would be the same on Monday as they would be on Wednesday. So we need to cut out this notion that somehow this was only about the World Series. It's just not true. Was it an issue? Absolutely. But it wasn't the only issue."

Inquirer staff writer Jeff Shields contributed to this article.

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Comments

Posted 12:50 PM, 11/04/2009

Paul B

Well said, Mr. Mayor-we taxpayers salute you & thank you. You, at least, don't hate the public-which is what the hater (Willie Brown) does. He hates us all. As for that hater (aka Willie Brown)-there will be payback. People can be aware of what this THUG is up to by checking out the local's website at http://www.twulocal234.com/

Posted 12:52 PM, 11/04/2009

EP_Represent

For all TWU 234 members, the public is watching. You have turned your back on the riders, your customers! Shame on you!

Posted 12:52 PM, 11/04/2009

boroughboy

No. Then chip in on the medical. Would someone let us know what the cost per employee is? How many retirees are there? Give the community some facts here.

Posted 12:55 PM, 11/04/2009

thebaron

Greedy Union. 11.5% raise for miserable and hateful people. SEPTA shoudl break the union and start over.

Posted 12:57 PM, 11/04/2009

nizzies

little ceasar lol

Posted 12:58 PM, 11/04/2009

garyj4

Why do they deserve a pension. They are going out on a strike, second one in 5 years. TIME TO SHUT SEPTA DOWN AND LET A PRIVATE COMPANY TAKE OVER. Run it like a for-profit business, instead of a money-pit.

Posted 01:02 PM, 11/04/2009

bill at

Maybe Rendell can get the animals to agree not to set any more regional rail trains on fire. Probably not...

Posted 01:02 PM, 11/04/2009

maxrobes

Sorry Mayor Nutter but this about the World Series because the strike started after The World Series was finished in Philadelphia. No one ws going to school no Saturday and Sunday, so that's bogus. Philadelphia didn't want the national black eye of a mass transit strike during such a highly publicized game. Along with the other the events, Giants vs. Eagles and the Pearl Jam concert. I'm totally disgusted with the SEPTA union and Willie Brown and because of those individuals, I will no longer be a rider of SEPTA. My dollars are on a permanent STRIKE!

Posted 01:03 PM, 11/04/2009

everydayguy

Willie Brown is a thug. Plain and simple.

Posted 01:03 PM, 11/04/2009

fedupphilly

Stop the finger pointing and get a resolution so this strike can end.

Posted 01:07 PM, 11/04/2009

KatS

I really wish people would not comment on matters they know nothing about. I support the SEPTA stike.

Posted 01:07 PM, 11/04/2009

jimmya67

Fire them all. Then, post every job opening at half the salary and benefits of the current workers and we'll see a line of well deserving, qualified applicants that encircles Philadelphia.

Posted 01:07 PM, 11/04/2009

phlyfumblr

I hope Rendell recinds his previous offer and puts HALF of it on the table. Willie Brown and the TWU are rediculous.

Posted 01:08 PM, 11/04/2009

TAPP

NOT ANOTHER PENNY should be offered, and for every day that they're out, take something away. Their contract package should not be nearly as sweet when they come crawling back after realizing that there isn't a huge demand for their skill sets. If they're not back within two weeks, FIRE THEM. No contract = "At Will" employee

Posted 01:16 PM, 11/04/2009

ddh157

If I want an 11% raise I need to perform 11% better. Five years from now are they driving more routes, improving service, anything? I'm normally pro union but this is outrageous. While I'm not pleased with the whole debacle, SEPTA should be commended on a job well done keeping commuters safe and moving on regional rail last night.