Philly transit union puts off strike
October 31, 2009
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Pennsylvania’s governor and Philadelphia’s mayorannounced Saturday that the city transit system’s largest union had agreed notto go on strike as contract talks continued hours before the start of Game 3 ofthe World Series.
Gov. Ed Rendell and Mayor Michael Nutter told reporters told reporters lateSaturday afternoon that a 6 p.m. strike deadline would pass with no walkout bythe union representing more than 5,000 bus drivers, subway and trolley operatorsand mechanics of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.
Rendell said there had been “substantial progress,” and that although noagreement had yet been reached, he hoped one could be concluded quickly.
“We expect a contract very soon,” agreed Willie Brown, president of theTransport Workers Union Local 234.
Nutter said union and transit system negotiators would stay at the tableuntil a new contract is reached, and a walkout was “off the table.”
“The system is up and running,” he said. “Use it, today, tomorrow, thenext day and the day after that while we’re in the midst of this negotiation.”
The union—which represents more than 5,000 bus drivers, subway and trolleyoperators and mechanics—had threatened to strike just after midnight Friday ifthere was no accord, but agreed to Rendell’s request to keep talking onSaturday. The last contract expired last spring and members voted Oct. 25 toauthorize a strike.
The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees are scheduled to play thethird, fourth and fifth games of the Series on Saturday, Sunday and Monday inPhiladelphia. Most of the system’s 810,000 riders use buses, subway lines andtrolleys to get to work, but SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said about 8,000people typically take transit to the baseball stadium for games.
Union workers, who earn an average $52,000 a year, are seeking an annual 4percent wage hike and want to keep the current 1 percent contribution they maketoward the cost of their health care coverage. SEPTA is offering no raises inthe first two years and 2 percent raises in the final two years of a four-yearcontract and wants to raise the health care contribution to 4 percent.
A 2005 SEPTA strike lasted seven days, while a 1998 strike hampered thetransit system for 40 days.
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