Rendell, Nutter confer with SEPTA union reps

by Jeff Shields

Published Nov. 2, 2009, 2:03 p.m. ET

Gov. Rendell and Mayor Nutter met with representatives of Transit Workers Local 234 this morning at the Governor's Broad Street offices as part of the union's bargaining process with SEPTA, and the parties broke for lunch with the expectation to return early this afternoon.

Nutter left The Belleview about 1 p.m. after the union went to lunch, saying he expected to return. SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said the two sides are "basically crunching numbers" and began about 10 a.m.

The two sides postponed talks scheduled for Sunday night, after reaching agreement Saturday on health-care issues with a commitment from the union not to strike for the World Series games in Philadelphia Saturday, Sunday and Monday. An agreement on wages was reported to be close.