Web Search powered by YAHOO! SEARCH

options

Sabrina Dawkins, who usually gets to work by bus, then the subway, waits for Mona Tan, her Eastwick neighbor, as she parks yesterday along the 500 block of Callowhill Street.

1 of 2

View images

READER FEEDBACK

SEPTA, TWU are talking, but not with each other

By KITTY CAPARELLA
Philadelphia Daily News

caparek@phillynews.com 215-854-5880

NEGOTIATORS for SEPTA and the Transport Workers Union Local 234 were working into this morning, independently, to solve problems with the 186-page contract offer that led to a city transit strike that has stretched into a fourth day.

Gov. Rendell and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, who have been acting as buffers between the union and transit agency, met late last night with Local 234 President Willie Brown and others at TWU headquarters on 2nd Street near Spring Garden.

To the thousands of workers and students in Philadelphia growing increasingly weary of struggling with trains, taxis, bikes, vans and cars to get where they needed to go, a deal couldn't come soon enough.

To break the impasse, the Daily News learned last night, the TWU was considering four scenarios for wages, none of which included the $1,250 signing bonus that was part of the contract offer the union rejected early Tuesday, according to a source close to negotiations.

None of the proposals for the five-year contract includes a raise in the first year.

For the remaining four years, the proposed raises were:

3 percent each year;
3 percent for three years and 2.5 percent the final year;
1.5 percent every six months;
1.5 percent every six months expect for the last six-month period, when it would be 1 percent.

Depending on the scenario, money could be freed up to solve other stumbling blocks, the source said.

Rendell delivered the details of the wage proposals, which were part of SEPTA's full contract offer, to TWU headquarters at 10:20 last night. Brown arrived 10 minutes later.

Food was brought in shortly before 11 p.m., signaling that they were in for the long haul.

A source familiar with negotiations said about 11:30 p.m. that "they're shooting proposals back and forth."

Neither Rendell nor TWU officials were expected to immediately comment.

Beginning at 4:15 p.m. yesterday, Rendell and Brady met with Brown and others for nearly an hour at the Carpenter Regional Council on Spring Garden Street near 18th. Brady, a member of the carpenters union, set up the meeting.

Outside the carpenters building, Rendell said he had spoken with SEPTA before and after the meeting, and asked that the transit agency also "crunch numbers" for different scenarios as the union restructured the contract proposal to make it more palatable for members.

Rendell said he did not ask SEPTA to change its money offer, nor did he withdraw the state's $6 million contribution from the transportation economic development fund.

Brady said it was important for both sides to "keep going and keep talking" - even if it was only through the two elected officials.

Late Monday night, SEPTA gave the TWU a take it-or-leave it offer, including the first-year signing bonus, a 2.5 percent wage increase in year two and 3 percent raises for the rest of the five-year contract.

Members did not have to increase their contribution to health care, and pension benefits would increase by 11 percent.

Brown, however, said that the pension fund was 52 percent funded, while the management pension fund was funded at 72 percent.

He accused SEPTA of failing to contribute its share to the union's pension for 12 to 20 years.

SEPTA denied that assertion and said that the agency annually meets its required contributions.

Page: 1 of 3 View All

1 | 2 | 3 Next»

CURRENTLY SHOWING ON PHILLY.COM

A Philly girl's love for Michael Vick

Philly Uncorked: Cooking and wine

Mob Scene: Bad Cop

SnapGlow.TV: Jean fashions with Sixers Dancers

The Gossip: On the weathermen front

Comments

Posted 04:19 AM, 11/06/2009

mikeyg

SEPTA needs to stick to their guns now. Let them stay out. Do not give in for anything else. In these times when everyone knows someone unemployed, these "entitlement focused" ba$tard$ need to be dealt with. I have adjusted my schedule to pick up kids of other families in the neighborhood as well as mine. I will continue to adjust, as long as SEPTA stays the course and says no more entitlements, no more better wages than school teachers, no more free health care, and no more increase in pension contributions. No more held hostage.

Posted 06:22 AM, 11/06/2009

phillypapers

I support the strikers. Pay them well for their hard work. There's too much misinformation and jealousy within the posts on here. If any strikers are reading this, you do have a great deal of support and appreciation out here. Thank you.

Comment removed.

Posted 06:47 AM, 11/06/2009

Neoconkiller

I support the strikers too. In this day and age very few people know what at pension is. the citizens have been used to being abused by a 401k. and the mind set is I'm being abused and outsourced why can't you let your employer abuse you too?

Posted 07:07 AM, 11/06/2009

progressivepat

Since you won't let us post due to your stupid PC policy Ill say it here - Kill that lousey Muslim POS.

Comment removed.

Posted 07:15 AM, 11/06/2009

cuch

I get it, the strikers worked real hard in school and at the job to be trained for their exausting profession. To make it through the streets of philly without running over someone or not missing a bus stop. Because of these years of training they are entitled to make what the market will bear, almost like Ryan Howard. This is why you union symphizers are yourselfs seekers of little expertize and high wages, if you can be replaced for half the price you should be, unless the skills you bring to the job are unreplaceable for that price, in this case NOT.

Posted 07:18 AM, 11/06/2009

smartrnu

Septa is almost as bad as Comcast...always raising prices but service still suxx

Posted 07:19 AM, 11/06/2009

cuch

If the only way you can make your self nonreplaceable is by striking, your replacable. There is not much difference between a strike against the public than extorsion

Posted 08:04 AM, 11/06/2009

N.O.SAINTSFAN

phillypapers you are an idiot. Almost NO ONE supports these clowns and they know it.

Posted 08:29 AM, 11/06/2009

MontcoPaul

JUST PLAIN GREED THAT IS TOO PREVALENT IN A WORLD OF HARDSHIP. A REALLY BAD MOVE BY UNION MANAGEMENT. WARNING TO MEMBERSHIP: BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE OR LET YOUR SAVINGS DWINDLE. LEARN TO PAY INTO WHAT YOU HAVE. BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR GOOD PAYING JOBS.

Posted 09:00 AM, 11/06/2009

union guy

Stand up and stay strong TWU Local 234 members. At least one union is fighting back.

Posted 09:22 AM, 11/06/2009

murderous_chimp

@union guy: That's right, my union brother. Fight as hard as you did to attain the skills you have. Who cares if everyone with a license can do your job. You are marketable. Your skill-set is rare. Thank god there are unions to protect hapless, dependent losers us. Stay strong! Dont fight back against your own ineptness; fight back against commonsense. INFLATE THE RAT!

Posted 10:33 AM, 11/06/2009

dreinterests

As bad as the traffic is, i'VE COME TO LIKE MY QUIET STREETS. I think we could do with far less bus routes and bus drivers. I doubt the politicians realize it and union guy, sheep that he is, doesn't realize it. the strike, in some ways, is teaching that life without SEPTA is possible and in some ways, preferrable.

Posted 01:12 PM, 11/06/2009

catnapper

TWU local 234 stay out as long as you have to.Don't cave in to that back stabbing Nutter.You have a lot of support out there.Stand strong and you will succeed.