Philadelphia Transport Union Resumes Negotiations On Fourth Day Of Strike

November 6, 2009 1:13 p.m. EST

Philadelphia, PA (AHN) - The biggest union of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) resumed talks with officials on Friday even as they continued a strike for the fourth day.

The Transport Workers Union Local 234 met with Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell late Thursday night, and reviewed a new offer from the transit agency on Friday, according to local reports. The prospect of an end to the walkout in one of the nation's largest cities is unclear, with WPVI-TV reporting that union leaders are unhappy with the new proposal, while the Philadelphia Business Journal quoted SEPTA officials as saying an agreement was "very, very close" at hand.

The 5,100 members of the union began their strike early morning on Tuesday, only hours after Philadelphia hosted the World Series. Their contract expired on March 15 without any new agreement despite talks with SEPTA since December last year. The contract covers bus, subway and trolley workers, and does not affect rail service.

Workers had asked for a 4 percent annual pay raise and a $25-per-month increase in pension payments for each year of service. It previously sought a 6 percent annual wage hike. Transit officials had proposed no pay raises for the next five years, and then offered a 2 percent increase for the third and fourth years of the contract.

Local 234 President Willie Brown, in a press conference on Wednesday, cited pension contributions as a major issue in the contract. He said union members were being asked to contribute 1.5 percent on top of the 2 percent they already provided, while management gives less than 1 percent of its pay to the fund.

Rendell said in a statement that SEPTA had offered "an excellent contract" and that "union leadership walked out on a big victory for their members."

SEPTA serves 3.9 million riders in the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Rising unemployment and the recession nationwide has prompted many transit agencies to lay off workers and implement cost cutting measures.

SEPTA suffered declining commuter traffic as well but posted a 1 percent increase in ridership in the 2009 fiscal year, which ended on June 30. The additional trips translated to $12 million, or 3 percent more in revenues.

The strike has disrupted six  trolley routes and numerous bus routes. Regional rail is operating as well as bus, trolley and high speed lines in suburban areas. The green and gold loop service from 30th Street Station into University City is also still running.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter had activated the city's emergency operations center but on Thursday shut down the EOC and said it would not be re-activated for the remainder of the strike, which has been exacerbated by a train fire and a rail worker being fatally struck by a train.

Parking restrictions in selected locations in the city are still suspended, and the number of vehicles allowed to offer taxicab service has been increased.