Just in time for the World Series. Oh, TWU 234. Is there no end to your rampant selfishness and unwillingness to confront reality?
Transport Workers Union set to vote on strike today
Published: Sunday, October 25, 2009
By John M. Roman,
jroman@delcotimes.com
PHILADELPHIA — Members of the Transport Workers Union Local 234, which represents about 4,700 workers in the City Transit Division, will vote on a strike authorization today.
The contract expired March 15 for operators and mechanics who work on the Broad Street Subway, the Market-Frankford Elevated/Subway Line, subway-surface trolleys and city bus routes.
Key issues are wages, job security, pension benefits and health care.
Union members will meet 11 a.m. today at the Sheet Metal Workers Hall, Columbus Boulevard and Washington Avenue, in South Philadelphia.
The purpose of the meeting will be to vote to authorize a strike and to set a date when a strike at SEPTA would begin.
TWU Local 234 president Willie Brown couldn’t be reached for comment Friday afternoon. Union spokesman Bob Wolper said the union and SEPTA were in negotiations Friday afternoon, but declined further comment.
At the time of the contract expiration, union president Willie Brown then said he would not “hold the riding public hostage” by striking in this down economy.
SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney on Friday said, “we’ve been in continuing negotiations and we certainly hope for a settlement. There’s no need for a strike.”
He declined to discuss what contingency plans SEPTA would implement in the event of a walkout and would deal with that at that time. “I don’t want to get into any speculation,” he said. “I certainly don’t see any need for a work stoppage.”
SEPTA has a $1.13 billion operating budget, a 3.3 percent increase, which doesn’t include any fare increases or service cuts for this fiscal year.
Despite $50 million worth of projects in Delaware County over the next two years thanks to federal stimulus money, SEPTA General Manager in August said he expects a $120 million shortfall to hit the transit agency in 2011 when Act 44 dedicated funding dries up.
The largest anticipated cost increase, about $40.5 million, is for labor and benefits, which SEPTA predicted will rise 5.4 percent to $792.5 million.
Last Sunday, TWU 234 ran a newspaper ad addressed to SEPTA riders which stated that “SEPTA has been refusing to even discuss issues that we think are important — things like dignity and respect for our union’s members.” It has also taken out television ads.
The union said SEPTA refuses to discuss the ability of union members to have a say in their work assignments based on seniority. The union said this is an important civil rights and seniority issue.
The union stated “our patience is wearing out.” It indicated the members haven’t stopped working because in this recession SEPTA riders rely on them more than ever — “but enough is enough.”
SEPTA has a $1.13 billion operating budget, a 3.3 percent increase, which doesn’t include any fare increases or service cuts.
Contracts also expired in April for the United Transportation Union Local 1595, which represents 340 vehicle operators in the Victory Division (formerly Red Arrow) in Delaware County.
Contracts also expired in April for TWU units which represent workers in the suburban transit divisions in Bucks and Montgomery counties.
NBC10 has reported that if a deal isn't reached by Friday, they walk. Classy.