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SEPTA Talks On Hold As Strike Looms
By MARYCLAIRE DALE and PATRICK WALTERS, Associated Press
Philadelphia — Transit talks aimed at avoiding a weekend strike were put on hold until 5 p.m. Friday, hours before the threatened walkout.
A spokesman for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) says the two sides met until 11 p.m. Thursday and discussed the three key money issues: wages, pensions and health care.
He calls the talks constructive, but stopped short of saying much progress was made.
A spokeswoman for the Transport Workers Local 234 union did not immediately return calls for comment on Friday.
The union represents about 5,000 bus drivers, subway and trolley operators, mechanics and others. They are seeking to boost wages that average $52,000 and to keep health care contributions to about $10 a week.
The union previously said its members will walk out if a new contract with SEPTA was not met by the end of the week — possibly as early as 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
A potential strike would disrupt bus and subway services just as the New York Yankees come tow town. The third and fourth games of the World Series between the Phillies and Yankees are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia; a fifth game, if necessary, would also be in the city Monday.
A strike would bring most SEPTA services in the city to a stop, including subways, buses and trolleys. Regional rail trains, whose workers are represented by another union, would continue to operate, as would paratransit service.
"I would hope that the union would agree that we aren't that far apart on these issues," SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said on Thursday. "We certainly are optimistic."
In 2005, a seven-day walkout by the union idled buses, subways and trolleys.
The union voted last Sunday to authorize a strike, saying workers have been without a contract since March and have not had a raise since December.
According to union officials, SEPTA management has offered no wage increase for the first two years of a four-year contract and a 2 percent increase in each of the final two years.
SEPTA also wants to increase worker contributions to health coverage from 1 percent to 4 percent and freeze the level of pension benefits, the union said.
The union is seeking a 4 percent annual raise and also wants pension contributions to rise from $75 to $100 for each year of service. It also wants its members to do maintenance and repair work on buses and trolleys that is now done by outside contractors.
Allison Cooper, the union's vice president, said the agency has received money from the federal stimulus package and reported increases in fare collections — meaning transit workers should see more financial benefits.
The union also has concerns about changes SEPTA wants to make involving whether senior employees get to pick what types of work they want to do, Ms. Cooper said.
A spokesman for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) says the two sides met until 11 p.m. Thursday and discussed the three key money issues: wages, pensions and health care.
He calls the talks constructive, but stopped short of saying much progress was made.
A spokeswoman for the Transport Workers Local 234 union did not immediately return calls for comment on Friday.
The union represents about 5,000 bus drivers, subway and trolley operators, mechanics and others. They are seeking to boost wages that average $52,000 and to keep health care contributions to about $10 a week.
The union previously said its members will walk out if a new contract with SEPTA was not met by the end of the week — possibly as early as 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
A potential strike would disrupt bus and subway services just as the New York Yankees come tow town. The third and fourth games of the World Series between the Phillies and Yankees are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia; a fifth game, if necessary, would also be in the city Monday.
A strike would bring most SEPTA services in the city to a stop, including subways, buses and trolleys. Regional rail trains, whose workers are represented by another union, would continue to operate, as would paratransit service.
"I would hope that the union would agree that we aren't that far apart on these issues," SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said on Thursday. "We certainly are optimistic."
In 2005, a seven-day walkout by the union idled buses, subways and trolleys.
The union voted last Sunday to authorize a strike, saying workers have been without a contract since March and have not had a raise since December.
According to union officials, SEPTA management has offered no wage increase for the first two years of a four-year contract and a 2 percent increase in each of the final two years.
SEPTA also wants to increase worker contributions to health coverage from 1 percent to 4 percent and freeze the level of pension benefits, the union said.
The union is seeking a 4 percent annual raise and also wants pension contributions to rise from $75 to $100 for each year of service. It also wants its members to do maintenance and repair work on buses and trolleys that is now done by outside contractors.
Allison Cooper, the union's vice president, said the agency has received money from the federal stimulus package and reported increases in fare collections — meaning transit workers should see more financial benefits.
The union also has concerns about changes SEPTA wants to make involving whether senior employees get to pick what types of work they want to do, Ms. Cooper said.
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