Philly transit union extends deadline
October 31, 2009
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—A union representing more than 5,000 transit workersagreed early Saturday to extend the deadline for a strike that could disrupt busand subway services during the World Series games in Philadelphia.
The union had threatened to go on strike as early as 12:01 a.m. Saturday iftalks with Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority did not reach someaccord. But after that deadline came and went, Allison Cooper, vice president ofTransport Workers Local 234, said the group agreed to a request from Gov. EdRendell that it continue negotiations until 6 p.m. Saturday.
“There is no strike right now,” Cooper said early Saturday. “We are goingto continue to talk until 6 p.m.”
The union membership voted Oct. 25 to authorize a strike. The new deadlinewould be about two hours before the start of Game 3 between the Phillies and theNew York Yankees.
SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said he could not immediately comment on anyextension of the talks.
The Phillies and Yankees are scheduled to play the third, fourth and fifthgames of the Series on Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Philadelphia. About 8,000people typically take SEPTA to the baseball stadium for games, Maloney said.
The vast majority of the 810,000 people who use SEPTA buses, subway linesand trolleys are trying to get to work, not the World Series.
The union represents bus drivers, subway and trolley operators, andmechanics who make an average $52,000 a year. They are seeking an annual 4percent wage hike while SEPTA is offering no raises in the first two years and 2percent raises in the final two years of a four-year contract.
On health care, the union wants to keep its current contribution of 1percent of salary, or about $10 a week on average. SEPTA wants to raise thecontribution to 4 percent, noting that the contributions of city and stateworkers are likewise going up.
SEPTA drivers and operators earn $14.54 to $24.24 an hour, and reach top payafter four years. Mechanics make $14.40 to $27.59 an hour, SEPTA said. Theircontract, which expired in March, has a no-layoff provision.
Ridership has fallen by about 37,000 people a day since July, perhapsbecause of the high unemployment, Maloney said. The base fare is $2.
About 41 percent of SEPTA’s $1.13 billion operating budget comes fromrevenues and the rest from subsidies.
A 2005 SEPTA strike lasted seven days, while a 1998 strike hampered thetransit system for 40 days.
“I wouldn’t be able to get to work,” said Tonia Gaskins, 34, who makes tworound trips on SEPTA each day as she juggles two waitress jobs. “I could catcha bus, but it would take twice as long, and I really don’t have the time.”
Associated Press Writer Patrick Walters contributed to this story.
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