Philadelphia Region Local News

  Commuters sound off on the SEPTA transit strike.

Your Name : weekday rider
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The twu union president needs to wake up and smell the coffee what world are you living in. I'm a gov't employee and we currently have a contract similiar to what septa management offered to you. Take the offer and stop embrassing yourselves. In the past I have been in support for the union during past strikes this time I'm for SEPTA management this time. What makes you guys think your better than the rest of us. Sign the agreement and get back to work. You should be grateful that you guys have a job, so many people don't. You know how many people would love to have the job that you guys have? We are in a recession. Stop thinking about yourselves. It is not all about you! Wake up now! Get back to work!

Your Name : SEPTA wife
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The fact is that the contract proposal was never even taken to the membership for a vote. So stop placing the blame on the workers. The Union Leadership took it upon themselves to turn it down before even putting it before the workers for consideration. There's no doubt in my mind that had the contract been turned over to membership for a vote (as it should have), that it would have been accepted, and there would have not been a strike. The Union Leaders are in the wrong here, not the workers themselves.

Your Name : Kelly
Your Hometown : Northeast Philadelphia, PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Having had a parent who worked for septa before he passed away, I do know that one thing the union president said in his press conference today is UNTRUE. My father (who was a QC supervisor, although considered management) worked HARD everyday for his pension and health benefits for my sister and myself. My father worked DOUBLE shifts to earn what my mom received when he died. My father worked so hard for SEPTA, he died while at work! My point in stressing this is not for people to feel sorry for me but... to get people to think before they speak! Also to the union members, I am sure you have children, correct? Your children probably take public transportation to get to school, correct? Well imagine all of the Philadelphia high school students you are affecting by your selfishness. If you are not even thinking about your child's welfare, at least think about my cousin and others put out because of your strike! I am sympathetic to the fact you have worked without a contract for approximately 24 months. I do think your health benefits should be better, but that is where my empathy ends. 1200 signing bonus? FORGET it. Teachers dont even get that and we work with the public like you do! So please, stop this, go back to work and stop keeping our children out of school because of your wants and fancies! THANKS

Your Name : Dan
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Once again it is the Unions are taking the blame for the strike, why not the over paid heads of septa? When the car companies were in trouble it was the auto workers making 60k a year with a pension not the execs make millions. Wake up America it is the unions that are keeping wages were they are if it were up to the rich there would be no working class.

Your Name : jk
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : mayor nutter the greedy septa people neeed to learn we are in bad economic times and nutter will pay by being a one term mayor septa is the only company that srikes on the regular out of the tri state area.

Your Name : Adrienne
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I agree with the rest of these posts! Fire the bums. They wanna strike and risk their jobs? Go right ahead - how about we hire and train the rest of the country out of jobs... I agree it is a selfish and greedy decision. Screw the union. I'd bet that Septa could hire and train the unemployed for less money! They'd be happy for the income.

Your Name : john
Your Hometown : pa
Share your commuter story, suggestions : they are striking over more than the pensions. They are not revealing everything to the public.

Your Name : Nicole
Your Hometown : Havertown
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think is is a disgrace how striking city wokers can disrput the Victory division. It is bad enough that they have disrupted the city commuters and business owners,now they are hurting those who commute in the suburbs. They should be greatful to be employed at a time when economic turmoil has causd many to be laid off. Stop whining and do your job!

Your Name : Charlie
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : On a high note, at least they waited until after the World Series left town to engage in this nonesense. Go Phils! However, it's definitely a negative impact on a lot of commuters throughout the Philadelphia area since they rely on SEPTA to conduct their daily activities. Given the current state of the economy a strike could not have come at a worse time. Says a lot about SEPTA and how they'll behave when times are tough. Learn from this, and if possible, always have an alternative to public transportation.

Your Name : Ronald
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I agree with everyone else's posts about firing the union workers. 50k and full benefits for driving a bus is more than an ample salary for the skill set. You want to earn more? Go to school!!! I'd happily deal with extended down time from Septa if it meant firing the union members and taking time to hire and train those interested in aquiring a new job/career. And now further interfering with people getting to work by blocing buses? I'd be tickled to death seeing angry mobs starting to attack the picketers

Your Name : No More
Your Hometown : Corruptadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : they are striking over their pensions, cry me a friken river. They are lucky to have a pension when most jobs don't. I am in a union and I don't even have a pension, but a crappy 403 B plan. They should be ashamed of their disgusting, greedy, selfish, lazy, worthless, rude, corrupt butts.

Your Name : Renee Green
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : If I hear one more promotion regarding the benefits of biking to work during the strike I'd hunt them down and shake them, if only there were a bus to get me around! Dude, I work in King of Prussia and live in UCity, that's so not an option! And don't consider parents who use public transit to ferry their children to school negligent and unfit. SEPTA is the school bus system in this town. We don't finance a comprehensive network that can transport every student from their home, so factor that into your analysis when judging how horrible the union is behaving.

Your Name : Mark
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : In this economy I can not understand how one wants to strike. I've read some of these posts and one stated "SEPTA workers didn't want to strike". Then why did thay pass a strike vote if they didn't want to strike? This strike is hurting hard working men and women who have to support their families and also the School children who rely on SEPTA to get to school for their education. And yes I realize SEPTA workers also have families to support. All the more reason to work while negotiating. I am a union member and have seen my fellow members getting laid off. I am just thankful to be working in these troubled times.

Your Name : Stephanie
Your Hometown : Montgomery County
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Oh nevermind,my bad. That wasn't a SEPTA work, that was some one else. In that case that is kinda mean, I would hope that they lose they're jobs to teach them to appreciate what they have and show them a little humility instead of being so greedy and selfish while Philly suffers for their tantrums.

Your Name : RE: bob
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : No bob, it does not make us look worse, it makes us look fed up with the disgusting greed of this union. To hell with them, I still hope they lose their jobs. they gave us no time and no warning for us to make arrangements, that's what makes them worse. they are selfish, lazy slobs.

Your Name : Stephanie
Your Hometown : Montgomery County
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I would just like to make a few points here: (1 People do have back up plans, sure it's a major inconvenience but they are getting home aren't they. (2 The people who are saying that riding septa is a privilege are right, a privilege that EVERYONE that rides SEPTA has damn well earned by paying with they're hard EARNED money to ride SEPTA, they work for that money that they pay SEPTA which in turn gets you SEPTA Union "workers" your paycheck, so EVERYONE is more than privileged beings they make your paycheck. (3 Final point, the guy who is telling people to stop wishing that SEPTA loses their houses, health, food,...et cetera I hope your actually looking into these messages when you read them because that was a SEPTA worker saying that to everyone downing them on this board, not the other way around.

Your Name : Gabe
Your Hometown : northeast
Share your commuter story, suggestions : may the riders spit in your greedy, selfish faces (septa workers) when this strike is over.

Your Name : bob
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : HEY EVERYONE...WISHING BAD ON SEPTA WORKERS (MEANING, I HOPE YOU LOSE YOUR JOB, HOUSE, HEALTH COVERAGE ETC)ISNT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT ONLY MAKES YOU LOOK WORSE BY WISHING THIS UPON THEM. THEY WILL WORK IT OUT AND IT WILL BE RESOLVED, EVERYONE HAS TO ADJUST IN THE MEANTIME. I AGREE WITH THE OTHER GUY WHO SAID WE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THINGS LIKE THIS WHEN THEY HAPPEN. WE CAN DEPEND COMPLETELY ON SEPTA. WHEN IT IS ALL OVER AND DONE WITH, EVERYONE WILL BE RIDING AGAIN AND EVERYONE WILL SHUT UP.

Your Name : ESPN
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Why didn't SEPTA file an immediate injuction when the strikers blocked the buses & trolley lines in Upper Darby this morning? Why can't supervisors cross lines & operate vehicles during a strike? They must just be sitting around w/o employees.

Your Name : Dan
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Normally I think unions can be good... but in this case, not so much. I cant claim to know if their current contract is fair or unfair, BUT no one is getting a raise right now and saving on health insurance. Maybe in the future they can be upset, but in this current economy, its a shame that the union is inconveniencing a LARGE amount of people who commute to the city every day. You should be ashamed. Im sure MANY of the workers disagree with their OWN union's views!

Your Name : Tiffany
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think it's really unfair what you septa workers are doing to the commuters who pay and rely on you every day. You guys are the highest paid workers in the city of Philadelphia how much more money do you want the city is already in a reccession and jobs are being cut back and businesses are folding and while all this is going on you guys are being selfish and inconsiderate you guys get full benefits and raises. Septa needs to get a contract stating that are not allowed to go on strike like the regional rail lines this is ridiculous millions of people rely on you. You guys have a job to do and you get paid good money to do it so why are you complaining do you know how many people wish they had what you guys have so get it together think about all the people who need you and not just yourselves so can ya'll please just end this madness it's unfair and it's not right.

Your Name : Q.
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I hate Septa and hope the city does not give in. I hope they hire another company to take over and/or hire people who are unemployed to drive the buses. Every year or every other year Septa threatens the city with a strike and want more. Like Nutter said there is no money. They are lucky to have a job with benefits and a union. The economy is horrible right now and for them to put an inconvenience on people who depend on them is selfish. I do not feel sorry for them at all when there is people out here who would love to have their jobs.

Your Name : re: a reader
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : shut up, Septa is not a privilege, we pay for it through overpriced fares and tax money. THEY OWE US!!! to hell with septa and especially its selfish and greedy union

Your Name : Toni
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : How can transit workers(Bus Drivers) be allowed to hold a city the size of philadelphia Hostage? Get a life 234

Your Name : RE: Septa worker
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : you suck and I hope you lose your job, your house, everything you greedy, selfish jerk.

Your Name : septa worker
Your Hometown : PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : our health insurance is not free. who said that?

Your Name : Quintina
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I feel septa has put everyone in quite of a deal because of their greed. There are alot of people who depend on them to get to work . Not only that with this strike and when it is over, you could at least have 2buses behind each other so that it makes it convenient for passengers.However, I know that you are going to hike the pricing up for the riders. what a way to throw us under the bus.

Your Name : a reader
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I know there is all kinds of things going on here...I just have two things to say. #1- Everyone is calling Septa greedy, but you are all yelling FIRE THEM, I WILL TAKE THEIR JOB. Well, isnt that being greedy? You are not ENTITLED to be carted around everyday, septa is a priveledge and you should be prepared for it when it doesnt work out. #2. I cant believe people let school children take public transportation. I dont know how old they are, but that is just sick. And then you wonder why in philadelphia people are murdered, kidnapped and shot? I would NEVER let my kid take the train to school.

Your Name : Disabled Veteran
Your Hometown : West Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I am a disabled veteran who uses Septa for my Veterans Administration medical treatments. As a disabled veteran with 21 years of military service, I will not be getting a COLA increase this year and probably not next year; that includes all disabled vets. Fire them all, legislate to make strikes illegal, as a public necessity. These are bus drivers and train operators, not brain surgeons. Their pay and benefits exceed those of most federal, state and corporate employees. Why are Philadelphians standing for this third class treatment by the Union and SEPTA.

Your Name : septa office worker
Your Hometown : nj
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I dont know why everyone keeps saying this but SEPTA DOES NOT HAVE FREE HEALTH BENEFITS!!! AND THEY DO HAVE CO PAYS!!!!GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT PEOPLE!

Your Name : sick of complainers
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : STOP COMPLAINING ALL OF YOU! WHAT IF THE BUS BROKE DOWN?WHAT WOULD YOU DO THEN! YOU SHOULD ALL HAVE BACK UP TRANSPORTATION PLANS IN EFFECT. GET A CAR.

Your Name : Terry
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Let's see now, a no lay-off clause, an average salary of $52,000, paid benefits and a really good pension and to top that even the rude, mean, ignorant drivers get that. Cry me a river and give me a job

Your Name : Iris
Your Hometown : Philadelphia, PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : All I can say is that isn't right what SEPTA decided to do yesterday morning going on strike like that with no warning!! All the students and people going to work who are being inconvenienced by this strike should boycott SEPTA when they come back on, hopefully sooner than later!! they really need competition!! I believe that the deal they were given or offered was a great deal!! All the people out there that are unemployed/laid off and you complaining over the deal you got!! At least you have a job!! Customer service on buses, trolleys and trains needs to improve too!! I'm getting my walking on and other people should do that to, but the fact that its cold out and gonna get colder is the problem!! Bike, carpool, thank God for regional rails and walk...

Your Name : Stephanie
Your Hometown : Montgomery County
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Hey Harry from North East Philly, news flash EVERYONE works hard and if you were in the position of a lot of different people you would be begging to give them a raise. SEPTA workers are not the only workers out there and they are surely not the only ones with a hard job. To be paid the kind of money they do I would shut my mouth and do any kind of work I was asked without question. As far as them being "hard workers" thats a line of bull, I have seen a lot of things that they do and trust me they are quite the opposite (not showing up to work on time, taking as many breaks as they &*$# well please, stopping where ever they want,....et cetera). The majority of them are very rude and inconsiderate, countless times I have seen the bus drivers pulling off even though they see some one right there that needs to get on that were a split second late and some of these people are older or have a baby for crying out loud, so I try to tell the bus drivers and they IGNORE ME! And don't even give me the excuse that they have a schedule because I understand schedules and it would'nt have hurt them at all to wait 5 seconds more for these people to get on or to at least acknowledge the fact that I am talking to them. They just need to shut their mouths,stop being lazy and greedy, get back to work,and push through the bad economy like the rest of us who have to work even harder now because of them! And to top it all off they are now stopping the transportation that is still working so people have no way to get to and from work to get paid and provide for their family, that just shows how honest, hard working, and considerate they are right there. They are taking advantage of the system even with the economy being the way that it is, making people lose money by not being able to get to work on time or at all, forcing other people to walk for miles on end, and they don't even care as long as they can throw their fits and get their way like little children. GROW UP SEPTA UNION, STOP BEING SO DAMN LAZY, DEAL WITH THE ECONOMY LIKE THE REST OF US, AND WORK FOR A CHANGE!!!!!!!

Your Name : I hate philly
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : this city needs a new non union transit company but being this city is so corrupt, I don't see that happening.

Your Name : everyman
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : cry me a river Septa union. What?? do you want the company to wipe your butts too??? lazy, selfish bums

Your Name : tired of this nonsense
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I hate septa but I hate their greedy and lazy union more.

Your Name : Mary
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I along with thousands of other people agree that most of the SEPTA workers are greedy. However, I do feel for those SEPTA workers who work really hard at their jobs and have to put up with some really dispicable people every day. Many workers do not really want to strike, they don't have a choice since the UNION is brainwashing them. On the other hand I feel sorrier for the average commuter who has no means of getting to work or has to scramble every day to try to get a ride. Hope the strike ends soon. We have been inconvenienced enough.

Your Name : Marvin
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The Septa Union has no support in this city, their actions made sure of that. I pray to god you all lose your cushy, well paid jobs that you lazy jerks don't deserve.

Your Name : Marvin
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The Septa Union has no support in this city, their actions made sure of that. I pray to god you all lose your cushy, well paid jobs that you lazy jerks don't deserve.

Your Name : UPSET MOM
Your Hometown : PHILLY
Share your commuter story, suggestions : DISGUSTED BY YOUR ACTIONS we are in a recession and we can barely hold are head above water but we pay everyday to get on public transportation and you have the audacity to cry about money and benefits. You make more than the average person does a year. Your benefits are 100% and you have pension etc. Most of your commuters don't have half that crap so get off your high horses and get back to work and deal with it.

Your Name : Severely inconvienced
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I used to blame Septa in the past for the strikes, but not this time. THe Septa Union is wrong and greedy. To hell with the TWU!

Your Name : Bus Rider
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA workers are just greedy. Maybe if the buses or subways ran without flaw, I could understand some sort of raise for their good efforts. But if you have ever been on SEPTA transportation, you know that there are many problems with their scheduling. Shame on them! There are so many unemployed at the current moment and their actions have left more people unable to get to work.

Your Name : Pauline
Your Hometown : Bensalem
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I hope the TWU union is reading these messages and how much they are hated but either they are not or they don't care because they are so self-absorbed. Greedy jerks.

Your Name : Stranded
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I wanna be a (SEPTA) bus driver in my next life!!

Your Name : Jason Todd
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : DE-Unionize Septa NOW!!! their Greed have gone too far. Most people would love to get the offer they got.

Your Name : Marty
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I hope a mob of people approach these striking bums and tell them off for being so selfish and pathetic.

Your Name : Dave
Your Hometown : North philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I hate you TWU!!! I too am a Union employee and would love to get that offer. Shame on you

Your Name : Samantha
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I AM DISGUSTED BY THESE ACTIONS. You could have had more respect for the commuters that help you have a job and given them notice not at no 3 a.m. You speak of you you you and what about us the commuters whom had to find and now we are left to find alternative transportation how would you like if one or two days commuters just decided we don't want to ride Septa you would loose money. You cry about money most of us don't even start off making what you make starting off. You cry about benefits, I wish I could afford my benefits from my job. Cry me something that we can all be on the same level in but you are whining about nothing get back to work so the rest of the city can get back to there daily routines, to do what they need to do for their family. I take Septa because my car is not working not because I choose to now my kids are suffering trying to get to school. YOU ARE SELFISH AND GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY.

Your Name : Tyrone
Your Hometown : North Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Blocking buses now??? the people are hating the septa union more and more everyday. I hope people spit in their faces when they board the buses when the strike is over.

Your Name : Pete
Your Hometown : Phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I normally support unions but not in this case. TWU and the septa union are WRONG and there is nothing to change my mind. I saw their contract and they have the nerve to want more! are u serious??? Please Mayor and Govenor, force them to be fired and take over septa, making it illegal to strike like the police and fireman can't. But this corrupt city will never let that happen. I hate Philadelphia.

Your Name : Joe
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : GREEDY union!! Our school kids have to suffer the most!! The TWU Members should be ashamed!! When is it enough ??

Your Name : twu sucks
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : outlaw the septa union, they are holding the city hostage for theri own greedy, selfish needs. Lazy bums, I hate u all

Your Name : Todd
Your Hometown : phila.
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think that the money from the transit economic development fund that was going to provide the $1250 signing bonus, that money and more from the same fund would better be used to hire and train enough new drivers to cover limited operation,say a two hour window around normal shift start times. We would patiently wait while Septa fired the rest of the striking idiots (who would be lucky to find dish-washing jobs) and bring their driver force and schedule back up to speed. By the way! Where is management during this crisis? All those supervisors who used to drive > Why aren't they out there providing limited service in the poorest, hardest hit neighborhoods???Shame on you Septa I hope everyone of you striking workers lose your jobs!

Your Name : Tony
Your Hometown : bucks
Share your commuter story, suggestions : drop dead TWU and Septa, you only care about yourselves. I hope Septa takes back that generous offer and lays all of you losers off.

Your Name : David
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa Union, you get no support from me. I read your contract and you are getting much more than you greedy bums deserve. how pathetic can you be?

Your Name : Gordon
Your Hometown : Pottstown
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Did any one see the ad?s in the Metro from the Union presidents, on HOW SEPTA was violating there civil liberties, because they were working without a contract. Tell it to all the people who count on SEPTA to get to work, school, medical appointments. You?re a public service that should never be allowed to go on strike.

Your Name : Kaley
Your Hometown : northeast philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : To hell with the septa union!!! Fire them!!! they are pathetic and greedy.

Your Name : Anthony
Your Hometown : Caster Gardens
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I just lost my job, not because of Septa but because of their selfish and greedy union. Hey septa, fire these losers and give me a job.

Your Name : George
Your Hometown : North Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Hey everyone, when the strike is over, everyone that takes the bus should yell, curse out, and give the drivers a piece of their mind for their disgusting, greedy, selfish acts that hurt a lot of people. I lost two days pay because of these jerks.

Your Name : Denise
Your Hometown : Northeast
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The Septa Union is a cruel Joke!!! Shame on you for your greed in this rough economy. I don't care if the membership did not know of the offer, they still elected their so called leaders, so they are just as much to blame.

Your Name : hate septa union
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Dear Septa Union...You suck! I hope you all lose your jobs and end up homeless you greedy bastards.

Your Name : Disgusted
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : So let me get this straight. Septa workers don't get paid enough, need their pension contributions increased, want to "pick" their assignments, don't want to pay for benefits. Also don't want to inconvenience philly riders. Soooo. We go on strike at 3 am...when riders are sleeping, have a sympathetic regional rail system that has "scheduling problems" due to the strike (guess regional rail never encountered a strike before..odd), have an odd ball fire on the R5 caused by leaves in the engine (mine are wet by the way...rain kinda does that), and now the moron septa workers are blocking the buses to pick up the poor stranded r5 passengers. Ya, the union has our best interest at heart. Scumbags. Fire or arrest all of them. You drive a bus, stupid! Or a train...not like you can get lost although based on the TV interviews of some of the workers, all bets might be off. lot of people looking for jobs and you morons want to get what you "deserve". You deserve unemployment! Maybe you can picket for an unemeployment "raise" and free medical coverage 'cause you think you "deserve" it. True scum.

Your Name : Paul
Your Hometown : South Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Fire them all!!! YOu lousy, greedy jerks. I hope Septa takes back the contract offer and changes it to minimal wage which is more than you lazy bums deserve!!!

Your Name : karen
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I've been a faithful SEPTA user since the '70's. I too believe the deal was unbelievably generous. HOWEVER, I would like to point out that I don't believe the MEMBERSHIP even got a chance to vote on the proposal. I'm willing to bet that, had they been given the choice, they would have accepted. I believe that much of the anger should be directed at the correct party: the UNION LEADERSHIP.

Your Name : Jake
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Now they have the nerve to block the suburban buses. Hey Union guys, ever hear of pushing your luck. Everyone hates you for your greed, now you are hated even more for your sneaky, cruel acts. I hope the government takes over Septa, fires all of you, and puts the jerks that blocks the buses in jail, you lousy, lazy, criminals.

Your Name : fedup
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : They are not road scholars or brain surgeons. They are practically unskilled laborers who drive buses and should be thankful to have any jobs at all. I say let them stay out there unpaid for 6 months and see who comes crawling to who.



Your Name : Federal Employee
Your Hometown : Washington, DC
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I'm proud to live in DC, it is illegal for transit employees to strike due to the negative impact on Federal Operations and the local impact of the work force. Sounds like some SERIOUS laws need to be changed up there!

Your Name : Diane
Your Hometown : West Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : r5 caught on fire, so the r6 out of cynwyd isn't running either. I'm stranded in West Philly hoping I won't be fired. Thanks SEPTA.

Your Name : Renee
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I agree with laying all of the employees that agreed to the strike! There are people out there that would literally kill for what Septa employees make...and without a contract!!!! Get real! Septa employees are a bunch of cry babies!

Your Name : Arlette
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : This is sinful. You people at septa have no idea how much more of a hardship you put on people like my husband who depend on you to get to work everyday. You say strike I say Boycott how would the septa workers and union reps feel if this strike cause people find others ways to travel and said the hell with you and boycott septa. I say to all my people who ride septa when stop striking we start boycotting Septa

Your Name : jesse
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : wow, this is amazing! as i drove my wife into work this morning, we passed the picket line at the frankford trans. center. these guys are out there picketing, i was amazed to see a keg of beer amongst all of the tables of food and drinks!! are you kidding me? the economy is in the gutter, and these guys are sitting out there drinking beer, laughing and having a blast.

Your Name : harry
Your Hometown : N E Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Ya septa has mary people apply for jobs. But 60% fail the drug test. Of the 40% left 20/25% fail the back ground/licence check. The septa workers on the line are clean safe and not on drugs. They are subject to random and post accident testing. Even the operator of the train that burned in west phila to will be drug tested. Do you think you could pass? Then apply and work for septa too.
Commuters sound off on the SEPTA transit strike.

Click Here To Share Your Thoughts

Your Name : Jim
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I would pull the contract offer off of the table. Let the union stay on strike and get nothing. When they crawl back, cut the offer in half.

Your Name : george
Your Hometown : phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I feel that they are unrealistic with the demands. there are many people that need a job and would love to have s septa job. i would lay they them off and replace with friendly hard workers. they have caused many people to loose money because they cant get to work. for the most part many of the septa drivers are the most miserable workers you can come across. replace them.

Your Name : Steve
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It's time for the City's "Leaders" to finally muster enough intenstinal fortitude to stand up to the union goons and just dump them all. I need a job, and I've always been able to drive anything!

Your Name : ag
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : all these septa people are really low profile people and they shouldn't do that. what an idiot union!!!!

Your Name : Kelly
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Really? A signing bonus, too? Ridiculous greed!!!! In this economy where people would give their eye-teeth for such a benefit package... LET ALONE the pay! Fire them all!!!! I will be in the applicant line tomorrow! AND THEN - to block the regional rails so the rest of us who are trying to get to work have OUR jobs jeopardized... it is unthinkable! I can't believe they can get away with this. SHAMEFUL, really!

Your Name : Amy
Your Hometown : Greenwich, CT
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I lived in the Philly area for a total of 10 years including college, and was a faithful SEPTA rider. I was hit majorly by the strike of 2005 and cannot believe they'd do it again. Seriously, in this economy, be lucky you have jobs, SEPTA employees. You're organization is unreliable, poor with handling finances, and to do this now, with the economy the way it is, and tens of thousands of people depending on your service to get to work and keep their jobs, you all have some nerve. Be happy you have a job to go to because not all of us do. This is the main reason I'm glad I moved out of the area.

Your Name : Patrick
Your Hometown : Philadelphia, PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I now have to walk 47 blocks (3.37 miles) to get to my job everyday because of the Greed of the TWU 234. They don't feel that a 2.25% increase over the next 5 years is enough well welcome to a bad economy, people have had to take pay cuts just to keep their jobs and they want a 4% increase in their pay over 4 years? Wouldn't we all like that? The TWU 234 wants SO much and yet their drivers do SO little, 1/2 the time they never show up, they are rude, crass, ignorant. I have been on busses when they have stopped so they can make a phone call, go to McDonalds to get something to eat, I even had one driver on a Market Street run, go into Burlington Coat Factory to get a present. If I did things like that I would be asked to leave my job, but these people want to be rewarded for their incompentence. Maybe they should fire all the drivers like Reagan did in the 80's to the Air Traffic controllers and hire new people. Maybe then they would realize just how luck they truely are!

Your Name : Fran
Your Hometown : Bensalem
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It's time for the union to face facts. Times have changed and everybody is cutting back. Septa made a great offer in todays economy. Most people out there would settle for half of that offer. Septa should consider replacement workers and keep them after the strike. Eliminate some of the union workers instead.

Your Name : Dennis
Your Hometown : Fort Dix
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think the SEPTA strikers are greedy. They should be glad they have a job and now they're causing other WORKING people hardship as they try to GET to work. And now they're disrupting the other open means of transportation in Philadelphia by blocking suburban buses and trains. The operators of those vehicles should just keep rolling and if the strikers get in the way - Oh well!




Your Name : Ryan
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : How much money do you need to be lazy and late.

Your Name : Anatoly
Your Hometown : Cherry Hill
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Lay all of them off!!! You will have 100's of people lined up the next day to take their job for 1/2 of their pay. No appreciation that they still have a job.

Your Name : Karen
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : This strike is outrageous. Everyone I know works without a "contract" and any day they go to work could be their last one. I have worked for two years without a raise and don't expect one in 2010. There are a lot of people out of work right now who would be HAPPY to have these well paying SEPTA jobs with these health care benefits for their family. I say pull a Ronald Reagan and fire them all and hire new workers! This union has done a disservice to its membership. The President should resign.

Your Name : John
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Someone needs to show Nutter this page, so that he knows what his constituents want. No negotiating with TWU. If they want to strike, let them find out what happens when people walk out on their jobs...the jobs get filled by people who are willing to work for the same salaries they just walked out on. If they want back in the door, let them go through the application process again, just like everyone else...and start again from the bottom, just like everyone else.

Your Name : Sue
Your Hometown : Phoenixville
Share your commuter story, suggestions : That greed-driven Septa workers are allowed to hold 800-900,000 commuters hostage, is outrageous. Septa workers are lucky to have jobs at all in this economic climate, much less such a generous package offer. One thing about a strike: we learn to live without the "service"...

Your Name : Kelly
Your Hometown : Havertown
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The Septa Union says that they want what management gets as far as their pension goes. Who gets that. They should be ashamed of how greedy they are. GREEDY! GREEDY! GREEDY!

Your Name : Lisa
Your Hometown : Ardmore
Share your commuter story, suggestions : We have the highest fairs is the United States and the upkeep of trash on the buses are poor. Some of the Septa drivers are rude.But yet in still they are stamping their feet and having a tantrum. BOO HOO!

Your Name : Stacey
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I cannot believe the audacity of the Union. In this economy other people are having to take furlough days, reduced salary and losing benefits - if they even still have their job at all. Union employees are acting like spoiled brats. Get real and quit being so greedy!!

Your Name : R Richman
Your Hometown : Cherry Hill
Share your commuter story, suggestions : In this time when unemployment is reaching 10% and the economy is doing poorly, i think Septa has some nerve going on strike. The deal they are proposing is outrageous. I would like to see some monster.com ads for Septra Drivers. I think there are plenty of people that would like to have jobs.

Your Name : harry
Your Hometown : N E Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Why are you blocking my comments? I am a supporter of septa. You people don't know how bad it would be without septa and thier dedicated and professional work force. The do something every day that you are crying about now, they put up with grid lock. They put up with snow, eggs from our young future prison dwellers,and people spitting and coughing on them. Try to do thier job and you will be offering pay raises and thanking them for doing what you couldn't.

Your Name : septa rider
Your Hometown : phila, pa
Share your commuter story, suggestions : To the septa wives who commented from phila and nj, you are right we commuters don't know the whole story. With that being said why aren't the employees getting on the news or contacting the local newspaper to let the people know the real story. Septa (union) announce that there would be no work stoppage during negotiations and that caused a lot of people to not have or forgo their contingency plans.

Your Name : Jay
Your Hometown : Havertown
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Great stirke plan Septa! Herd people through like cattle at Market East then sit idle for over an hour just past 30th Street. Yesterday it took me 2 hours to get from Market East to Ardmore. Way to go Septa!

Your Name : Shavon R
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I'm angry because I don't think that Septa was proactive enough in preventing this strike. I think they should have solved this problem back in March when the contract ended. On the other hand I think the union is being plain greedy. You know who needs to strike...the riders who get caught up in this nonsense every 4yrs. Also I would like a refund for the transpass I just purchased. Thanks.

Your Name : Feed up
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Fire them all and hire new drivers. Do not give them any increase in salary or benefits until the City's budget situation improves. At a minimum the City should lay off Septa employees just like any other business would do in an economic downturn.

Your Name : Philly girl
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Who gives a crap you have to work under an old contract. Most people do not work under contracts and are capable of keeping their jobs in a decent economy because they have skills, training and talent that keep them employed. If you need a contract to keep employment then you need not be relied upon by the city. Your emplyees are rude, your service is poor, your buses, trains and terminals are disgusting and terribly unsafe, your infastructure is crumbling, your PR is so horrible and again we can't rely on your crappy service. Maybe if you didn't get a contract you would step up a bit and work a little harder for the citizens who pay your paycheck. Money if any goes towards transportation needs to go toward improving where you fall short and especially making keeping us safe. Management who let this horrible service happen need to resign or be asked to leave. Pay cuts accross the board no one wins. Check your egos. Get rid of the corruption in SEPTA. It sounds like a childish contest of egos more on the part of the union. Union go back to work or lose your jobs. Executive management take a pay cut like our mayor did or leave. I will take your job.

Your Name : former union supporter
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It is time for citizens to ask the legislature to pass a law forbidding transportation workers from striking. I used to always support the union in labor negotiations, but you guys are being ridiculous and greedy. Calling a strike with no notice is unforgivable. It is time for the city and the state legislature to stand up to this selfish union.

Your Name : Deniece Carter
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think its totally unnecessary for septa to be on strike its not like it hared labor kind of job your sitting driving not more then 7 hours in air condition and you get paid more then school teachers and others really spend there hared working days sweeting or using there brains to work just because they can take advantage of people knowing most people use septa to go back and forth from work does not mean it's there time to be greedy if you don't like your job change it or suck it up cause not many people do and just think about the economy

Your Name : Geno
Your Hometown : Phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : A real bunch of classless crybabies to go out at 3am. Lazy union bums.

Your Name : Barbara
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA workers and the union should be ashamed. Every few years the city is threatened with a strike. If you feel overworked and underpaid, how bout, sell some of the operation off so that another bus company can operate as well. SEPTA has always been a pain. Now if the workers get paid more, what does that mean for the fares? Are we going to pay more to travel. It's time for the riders to strike and have a massive boycott to bring the conglomerate to its knees. I say we all car poll or walk. Screw SEPTA, the Union and the City too.


Your Name : Adam
Your Hometown : Bensalem, PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It must be nice to cry poor when your healthcare is 100% paid, you get guaranteed raises, have unparalleled job security and still cry for more. I bet you're even getting paid for being on strike, aren't you?

Your Name : Layla Stryker
Your Hometown : Rydal
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I will be happy to take a position at septa, even with my masters and being in med school. The benefits far exceed anything I will ever be provided with, even with an income three times the national average. Septa: stop being greedy. There are many people out there who would be happy to work with the proposed changes.

Your Name : Joyce Davis
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa management are the one's that need to stop this strike. The union has been working for almost a year under the old contract which I assume means that they have not gotten a pay raise for this year. I also seem to remember that the reason Septa workers are not paying toward their medical benefits only because that gave back monies in previous contract negotiations years ago, the monies from these never recieved pay raises. I get so mad when the Gov. and Mayor make the workers seem like the bad guys when they see the whole picture, remember these workers are the same people that put you in office.

Your Name : Joyce Davis
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa management are the one's that need to stop this strike. The union has been working for almost a year under the old contract which I assume means that they have not gotten a pay raise for this year. I also seem to remember that the reason Septa workers are not paying toward their medical benefits is only because they gave back monies in previous contract negotiations years ago, the monies from these never recieved pay raises. I get so mad when the Gov. and Mayor make the workers seem like the bad guys when they see the whole picture, remember these workers are the same people that put you in office.

Your Name : William
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA screwed up a lot of students' grades because of missed exams due to the shortage of transportation. However now I don't have to worry about being run over by the horrible drivers SEPTA employs.

Your Name : Ryan
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I have no sympathy for these SEPTA employees. If you have anything even resembling health benefits you should be thankful. I know what it is like to not have access to a doctor not to mention a dentist. Unless I need to go to the emergency room I suck it up. Now it's your turn to suck it up. Don't forget I want your job.


Your Name : Zebra
Your Hometown : woodbury
Share your commuter story, suggestions : only the rich get richer....septa workers the rest of us have to pay our own insurance and work too shame on you to strike

Your Name : hd
Your Hometown : phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : i make deliveries to several septa locations the guys deserve what they get paid but come on guys this is the wrong time to do this the economy is terrible and people are struggling to make ends meet now trying to find a way to get to work and or losing more money guys you do a great job but so do alot of people that depend on you to get to work or other locations suck it up you still have a job or give you want you want then layoff your partners and see how you like

Your Name : Boomer
Your Hometown : Media
Share your commuter story, suggestions : 58,000 school children use SEPTA every day to get to school. I wonder how many of them were left standing on the corner this morning wondering why the bus didn't come. How many were not able to get to school or back into their home? I have two tokens left, when they are gone so is my ridership. SEPTA stands for Slowly Eliminating Public Transportation Altogether. The workers at the 30th street El stop are among the nastiest SEPTA workers I have had the displeasure of interacting with. Withdraw the offer and give them nothing.

Your Name : S
Your Hometown : warminster
Share your commuter story, suggestions : So many things wrong with this picture. Septa shouldn't be union, city workers should not be union. That is what's wrong with this city. It's corrupt, dirty, and full of selfish, greety people who are only in it for themselves. As for the Septa mechanics and other workers other than the drivers, really come on. You all won't even sign for pkgs. that are parts for your busses because you think you're too good for that or "it's not part of your job" GIVE ME A BREAK!

Your Name : Joseph Gonzalez
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I can understand wanting to fight for what you feel you deseve but the way the Union did it was reprehensible. Because they feel 11.25% isn't enough of an increase over 5 years they decide to strike without warning the community. How about all of the people who either lost their jobs or pay for not being able to make it in to work? You should be ashamed of yourself Union. I say its time to file a class action lawsuit agains the union to recoup lost wages and unemployment from lost jobs due to the Union striking. Lets see how you like it when its your pocket that's it instead of the riders.


Your Name : Philly Stardust
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : so far what I've heard from a couple of union members is that "management gets this why don't we. We have to deal with the public" We have this they have that. Blah, blah blah. That is a weak argument for which you will find no sympathy. I was starting to understand your plight but when I hear this I hear something like sibling rivalry between two year olds. Anyone who works with the public has to deal with different personality types. Like doctors, nurses, technicians, respiratory therapists etc. in the Pediatric ER who treat kids for critical wounds inflicted by their screaming abusive, drunk parent for example. Not everyone who deals with the public in tense situations makes the big bucks. So if you want more pay for working with the public than get more education and be a doctor or nurse in the ER for example instead of the bus driver on his rump. Oh wait some of you make just as much as the nurse or even the residents and you didn't have to earn 50g/year while being in debt tens or hundredes of thousands for educational loans. Why should anyone get an education and take a career path and hard jobs work for SEPTA and hijack the city. As far as management goes they need to lose their jobs as well for their part in this failed system. In fact I'll take their job I'll take your job. Anyone else need a job? I see openings coming up from executive management down.

Your Name : union supporter
Your Hometown : limerick pa
Share your commuter story, suggestions : funny how rendell,nutter ,and the public are quick to point out how greedy the twu membership are over the pay raises. But how many remember this,"Outrageous governmental pay raises. On July 8th, we said that this is an issue that should have every Pennsylvanian up in arms with a real hue and cry. We were correct in assuming that the average Pennsylvanian would think that it was pure bull that they vote themselves a 16% raise when The average American working on the plantation that this country has become gets only somewhere between 2 % and 3% (if that) as an annual raise. This means that the average person would have to work between 5.33 and 8 YEARS just to equal what Pennsylvania legislators have deemed they ???deserve??? A.S.A.P. We all deserve a raise, but only elected officials can vote themselves one. Real life doesn???t work that way." yeah way to go governor!!!!

Your Name : Tom
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I really hope they all get fired and they hire new employees. Reagen did it with the air traffic controllers, I hope Nutter does it to. This is more than an inconvience, it is killing the city, killing hundred of thousands careers and businesses, putting our children at incredible risk. Ridiculous. Screw the union, they really crossed the line here. The economy is a mess, unemployment at an all time high, raises frozen, total disaster and they are clamoring for more. Total BS. I hope they all get put out on the street and let this be a message to the unions in the future. So sick of it.

Your Name : penny lambert
Your Hometown : north philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : i feel that it was very unfair for septa to strike with such short notice. if would have known for sure they were going to strike. i would not have purchased a transpass for this week. i doubt the will give me a refund

Your Name : Transpass Holder
Your Hometown : Upper Darby
Share your commuter story, suggestions : "In 2008, Pittsburgh's Port Authority Board of Directors took definitive action to solve the Authority?s ongoing contract negotiations with ATU Local 85 by voting to unilaterally impose the Authority?s final best offer, a step that is allowed by law when impasse has been reached in negotiations". Why can't Septa's Board of Directors do the same for it's tax-paying commuters? One of those is Rina Cutler, representing Philadelphia, & is Nutter's Deputy Mayor of Transportation.

Your Name : peter
Your Hometown : Medford, NJ
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think the Septa workers should be working. They are making so much money with their signing bonus alone. They need to go back to work.

Your Name : Pete
Your Hometown : Pottsgrove
Share your commuter story, suggestions : There are times to stand your ground but in this recession, this isn't one of them. Many folks are out of work and can't find a job. The offer made was more than reasonable. I also though agree the fat cats at the top need to have their saleries and benefits reviewed. I think a full review of Septa is needed. I'd like to see how Septa and the Management compare with other transit agencies in the top 5 cities around the country......


Your Name : Dawn
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Really, Septa? You should all be ashamed of yourselves. The city should hire all of the unfortunate people who have been laid off to run the buses. For the "Septa Wife"- you're a joke. To say comments like "if you were skilled, then you would have a job"... really. I have a job and I see people come in to my place of business constantly who are capable, intelligent, decent people but simply can not be hired because we don't have the money in this economy. In this current economic crisis, septa workers should be appreciative to even have a job.

Your Name : joker
Your Hometown : phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : they r all sick people fire them all i will work for half of their wages and still make a decent paycheck they r all overpaid i hope they never get a contract.

Your Name : jim robbins
Your Hometown : norristown
Share your commuter story, suggestions : while it's good to vent our frustrations it's really useless because septa doesnt care at all. they probaly make more money and have better benifits than most of their riders ,i know they do better than me, so what is this strike really about? are they that greedy?

Your Name : puzzled and perplexed
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : i saw some comments,one of which was from a"SEPTA WIFE" that said no one at septa wanted to strike. what does that mean if everyone is on strike? someone from septa had to vote for a strike!

Your Name : Tracy
Your Hometown : Roxborough
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA needs a major overhaul. Heads need to roll more than just the greedy union heads. The fact is that both SEPTA and the union have failed the city. There is corruption and greed in both parties. This is extortion on an election day. I hope the investigation by the state auditors office also looks into the corruption and the state does something about it. This cannot happen again. Take action and write to congress, to council to anyone who will listen.

Your Name : harry
Your Hometown : Phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : these bus drivers work in the morning then are off and need to return in the afternoon to finish trier work. I know what your going to say that must be nice, they get to do things on thier time off and get things done. Ya I bet it's great for about a week then you start thinking about &2.70 a gallon for gas!

Your Name : Leigh
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : People are confusing the issues in question with this strike. SEPTA wants the peons to pay more into their benefits while the managers who REALLY make the money don't pay a dime. SEPTA is the only transporation system is the city they are far from broke! And for those who don't think driving a bus is so hard, try dealing with all the different personalities and drunks and irate customers on a daily basis while concentrating on not having a collision with some idiot that cuts in front of you. The job causes its drivers added daily stress, high blood pressure and now SEPTA wants them to pay for their medication even though we are on the fron line making them all their money. If they want to save money, cut out some of the chiefs and devide it among the indians!

Your Name : joe mac
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : if any of u ever worked for a non-union compamy u would know what it's like to get steped on now that septa is getting what they deservered you all want to jump on there back's for standing u[p for them self. stand strong septa

Your Name : AR
Your Hometown : narberth, pa
Share your commuter story, suggestions : how ungrateful you all are septa employees!!! in this recession, you are lucky to even have a job!!! how do you do this to your city in the middle of the night. septa is the most expensive public transit system in the country. its cheaper to ride a bus everywhere else in the U.S. but here... i love the guy who said to fire them all and hire people who would be grateful to have a job!!



Your Name : Craig Saft
Your Hometown : Lafayette Hill
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I say with all the people who are out of work, Septa should fire everyone who is on strike and replace the whole sorry lot with peeople who would be grateful to have a job and maybe wouldn't take it for granted. they would appreciate their customers and be on time and courteous perhaps. I have had too many bad experiences with this sorry lot to have any sympathy for them. They treat the riding public like crap and want more and more. Dump em and find a new workforce who would care.

Your Name : Ernest
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It's time for the Commonwealth to pass a law forbidding any transit agency from striking when it receives state funds created from my tax dollars. The whole act was cowardly. I wish my job would offer me a raise and a better medical plan.

Your Name : mary monaco
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : i am a union supporter ..employers take advantage of ppl ,paying minimum wage and keeping them part time so they dont have to furnish benefits ,i do however think the way they went about striking with no warning was a low blow ..you dont hurt the company that way you hurt the people and that just isnt right

Your Name : G
Your Hometown : PHILADELPHIA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO SEPTA'S UNION! DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO, TO GET WHAT YOU WANT AND DESERVE!!!! YOU HAVE A STRONG UNION, AND KEEP IT THAT WAY!!! UNLIKE LOCAL 427 AND DC.33 AND THE OTHERS! PETE MATTHEWS SELL US OUT EACH AND EVERYTIME! HE IS WEAK AND HAS NO HEART WHAT SO EVER!! HEY PETE, WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO YOUR PEOPLE AND SEE HOW THEY FEEL CAUSE IF YOU HAD ANY HEART WE WOULD BE OUT THERE WITH SEPTA!!!!


Your Name : Bill
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It is about time Gov. Rendell and Mayor Nutter stood up for the people and not this greedy union local 234! This time SEPTA, Rendell and Nutter do not cave in to the Union. We are all suffering, the times have changed, someone needs to stand up for the people not the unions...we need change!!!

Your Name : Scott
Your Hometown : in NJ
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I thought it was funny that they would do it on election day, could it possible be politically motivated. Short notice (3am) sounds kind of sneaky. They intentionally made it so people would not be able to go to work. They wanted you to feel pain for thier greed. I havent had a raise in over 5 yrs. I guess the averaGE SEPTA bus drive makes over 20 dollars per hour, so 11% over 5 yrs is $2.20, more then what I got in alot of years, and I work in a skill trade not sit my rear end behind a steering wheel. The whole thing stinks and I think they should be pentalized. They aren't more important then the people.

Your Name : sue
Your Hometown : marlton
Share your commuter story, suggestions : shame on you SEPTA workers

Your Name : cmbuck72
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : To SEPTA WIFE in NJ. Don't judge others unless you judge yourself first! NOT everyone out of work is unskilled! It's called a RECESSION...meaning EVERYONE of EVERY skill level is struggling to make ends meet. YES, the Fats Cats on Market St. & the Big Wigs in the Union are mostly to blame for this mess and should take pay cuts. This strike will only make things worse because when all is said & done there are those who made alternate arrangements to get to work and will continue to use them rather than give their hard earned $$$$ to SEPTA. Resulting in decreased rider/revenues and causing cut-backs on services and layoffs. Just like the last time SEPTA went on strike!!!!

Your Name : Frank
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : i think that this puts a black eye on our city with this strike it's it's an inconvience to alot of people including my mom and friends i know who go to group therapy at the Orleans Building on the grounds of Friends Hospital. I like how Septa has modernized the El and other places such as their ongoing City Hall Station and i do think they deserve a contract that is fair.

Your Name : Smooth
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Ok, I'm not in a Union so I can't say all of the things that I want to say. But the fact is that the City don't have all the money to give to ya'll. Understand that this city just gotten over the hump by begging for money. Granted, ya'll should be treated with the respect of getting what ya'll worked for; but what if the city don't have more to give? Can ya'll at least take the offer they gave ya'll and possibly wait until they give more? It's not just that we need ya'll to come back on the job... We need ya'll to stop being greedy.

Your Name : Part Time Commuter
Your Hometown : Bordentown
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I was on the R7 today which left Suburban Station. Although the line was wrapping around, they were only letting 50 people at a time down on the platform. The train wasn't even full when it left the station. Nor was it full when it departed from 30th Street. All I could think about was the people still standing up in line waiting for a train when there were plenty of seats on the 4:21. If Brad Lidge threw as many strikes as Septa, the Phils would be up in the series 3-2.

Your Name : Ray Cross
Your Hometown : Berwyn, PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Fire all uniom members which voted for this strike. Already way overpaid.

Your Name : Stop Complaining!!!
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I've read these sob stories from Septa wives, transport workers, and union supporters!! For God sake's shut-up!!! You folks have been living off the pig for years!!! For the Septa worker who is so sick of working for Septa and feels the riding public can't hack working for this down and out transit agency let me explain that there are many and I mean many people out here who are looking for employment and I'm sure would not have a problem taking your place since you are so sick of your job!!! Also, if some of you drivers would learn to respect your riding public more I'm sure they would return the favor!!! For the Septa wives who complain that their spouses are working under hostile conditions tell your husbands to find another job, but I'm sure you won't do that because that would mean you would have to live like the rest of us hard working folks who are trying to find ways to live from pay check to pay check!! Especially, since your husbands are making more than our cheap mayor!! Finally, for all the union workers in this city who support Septa and who believe their lives are not complete if they are not a union employer do us all a favor and go blow it out your ear!!! The people in this city is sick and tired of hearing about you folks keep getting burned!!! Again, if you are not happy with your jobs please step aside and like hard working struggling folks have an opportunity to live off the pig for once!!!!

Your Name : FED UP!
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : To the "septa wife" who says that we should have a "back-up plan" and not depend on Septa: Lady - you're full of it! How many senior citizens CANNOT DRIVE? How many people living in Philadelphia CAN AFFORD TO HAVE A CAR? You are every bit as selfish as Local 234. Back-up plan? I agree! FIRE THE STRIKING BUMS AND OFFER JOBS TO THE UNEMPLOYED!

Your Name : Septa Sympathizer
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I am with unions period! As a teacher, people do not understand what is involved in your job. These companies take advantage of workers. For example, hiring part time people because companies do not want to pay for benefits. Another example, getting a 1% raise, which raises your earnings from $10.00 to $10.10! Wow, I hope the company didn't hurt themselves. Workers being treated like crap and being fired for no reason. These are several reasons why unions need to remain intact!!

Your Name : Joseph Goins
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Most of these guys are Bus Drivers how much do they think that job is worth? What kind of special skills do you really need? Eleven percent in pension increase seems like an awful lot: so does eleven percent over five years. They're living off of taxpayers as it is with all those government subsidies Fire those jokers! Every time a contract comes up they want more. It can't continue forever. End it now!. joe g.
Your Name : mary
Your Hometown : brynmawr
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I hpoe some of the members of the union get to loose there jobs. As septa can only raise fairs so much. The state should not bail out septa.In this economy I cannot believe they said no to this contract.They should have let them strike in Mar. The union waited so they could hold everyone hostage. Let them strike for two weeks and then let them come crawling back.

Your Name : George
Your Hometown : Philadelphia, PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : You know, in a time where there are so many people without jobs, I believe it was in the best interest for the union to make sure that this did not happen, not now anyway. I am appalled at was is taking place. The Unions always wonder why there are so many employers that do not want to do business with them and this is why. I realize working without a contract meant you could probably lose your job but as long as you do your job correctly then there is no reason to worry. I mean, most of us work our regular jobs without representation from a union and still have our jobs. SO TO ALL YOU SEPTA EMPLOYEES, STOP BEING GREEDY AND GET YOUR SPOILED @#$@! BACK TO WORK. Don't be surprised when you do return to work and do not have the public on your side, you totally screwed so many people.

Your Name : Joan
Your Hometown : Lansdale
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I can't believe the Septa workers turned down the contract offer! Both my husband & daughter did not get raises this year and my daughter's health insurance went up by $20/week. Like everybody else said - they should be happy they have jobs with an increase in salary and no increase in their health benefits. They need to get back to work!

Your Name : Tracy
Your Hometown : Roxborough
Share your commuter story, suggestions : If it is true that the executives are at fault for relaxing with their coffee all day then they not only are overpaid but highly incompetant. A talented executive would not let this be their image but would be able to forsee and curtail this predicament. There are a lot of highly skilled executives out their looking for work too. I say clean house from the top down and dissolve the union. The city relies too much on this service and is also at fault for putting the citizens in such a precarious position. No fat cats! and No unions to hold the city for ransome!

Your Name : septa wife
Your Hometown : nj
Share your commuter story, suggestions : WE UNDERSTAND YOU DEPEND ON SEPTA...BUT WHAT IF YOUR BUS COULDNT MAKE IT ONE DAY..YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A BACK UP PLAN!!! STOP BLAMING SEPTA. YOU DONT KNOW THE FULL DETAILS. THEY ARE NOT BEING STATED ON THE NEWS. SEPTA WORKERS ARE MORE THAN DRIVERS AND TROLLEY WORKERS, THERE ARE WORKERS IN THE MACHINE SHOPS AND BUS DEPOTS WHO ARE ALSO FEELING THIS. NO ONE FROM SEPTA WANTED TO STRIKE. WE ARE MISSING OUT ON GETTING PAID TOO! AND ALL YOU PEOPLE CAN THINK OF IS HOW CAN I GET TO WORK?? WE DONT MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU PEOPLE THINK WE DO, ESPECIALLY THE PERSON BELOW WHO SAID THEY HAVE A MASTERS DEGREE. WE ARE JUST TRYING TO HAVE CONTRACT THAT IS FAIR. EVERYONE IS MAKING US LOOK BAD...THE NEWS IS NOT STATING EVERYTHING. ITS A SHAME WHEN EVERYONE BELIEVES THE MEDIA ONLY. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IF THE CITY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOO FOCUSED ON THE WORLD SERIES.

Share your commuter story, suggestions : Welcome to Unionized Philadelphia, where the biggest whiner gets what he wants. The vast majority of Philadelphians work without a contract everyday and are grateful that we still can work. What gives any Union who serves the people of Philadelphia (you do don't you?) the right to hold us hostage to your demands against your management. The deal is a good one, so grow up, you petchulant babies. And leave your complaints about management out of it. Managers, by definition, always make better pay, get better benefits and perks. Your Unionized workplace culture sickens me.

Your Name : Tanya Wilson
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : My son travels to school by bus, which is about a 50 minute ride. The first few days of school I traveled with him just to see the company he would be keeping. The worst company i found was the bus driver. He was rude, with an annoyed look on his face and he also passed a lot of children trying to get to school. When they recieve the contract that they are looking for please include must have good manners at all times. My son will be missing a few days in school. I have to change my shift preferrence to third shift so that I can now drive my son to school. Bus drivers please, enough is enough.




Your Name : Annoyed
Your Hometown : Philadelphia, sigh
Share your commuter story, suggestions : As a young city employee in a family with other city and state employees, I know too well about union battles and strikes. My grandmother works for the state and she was one of many who didn't get paid for that long stretch. Did she not go to work? Of course not. She didn't miss work at all, even when she had to take out a loan to pay her bills, she showed up. At the library that I worked at last year, was one of the 11 to close. They didn't close them and I wasn't laid off. They tried to close all libraries recently but they didn't and we were all happy to still have our jobs. The city employees have worked without a contract for a long while now. We all know that striking right now would be crazy. We need money to support ourselves, our families. Septa employees get paid plenty and pass up a sweet offer why? City employees haven't been offered anything for some time. Thousands of people depend on you Septa. You could've prepared the people and not blindsided them. There are good ways to go on strike. This isn't one of them.

Your Name : Teron
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I feel sorry for the people that have to depend on Septa to get back and forth to work. At the same time, the people don't realize that the people that drive these buses, trolleys and trains found out that Septa was on strike just like everyone else. I saw that someone wrote that we should be happy to have a job. My comment to that is everyday that you work without a contract, your job is at risk at Septa. The people don't care about the drivers lives, all they care about is getting back and forth to work. Now that Septa is on strike, everyone wants to post their opinions like it's gonna change something. The bottom line is that everybody has bills to pay and everybody's blaming the "recession". Times are hard and when you work for a place that has a union that can't back you up because you're working "not" under a contract, that put you at risk to lose your job everyday you come to work.

Your Name : Kim
Your Hometown : Pittsgrove, NJ
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Are you kidding me?? I have a Master's degree and am a healthcare provider and make HALF of what they make, with NO health insurance. Please...they aren't going to get much sympathy here.

Your Name : bd
Your Hometown : burbs
Share your commuter story, suggestions : So how many people are out there looking for work? Maybe the union should go away and lets put some of the unemployed to work. I am sure they would take the contract that was presented. It's more than I will get.

Your Name : Union Member
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : This deal should have been accepted by the union and its members. Due to the economic climate we are all in, this deal is more than fair. Local 234 is ABUSING their power as a Union.

Your Name : Tracy
Your Hometown : Roxborough
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Fire them! There are way too many people looking for work to keep going through this with this union. Phildadelphia should never let this happen again. No one should be able to monopolize what has become a vital necessity. They already are over paid to provide such poor service, filthy and unsafe environments. In the amount of time these extortionists decide to come back to work new workers can be trained and ready to provide better service. The only offer that should stand is "come back to work and you get to keep your job".

Your Name : NIck
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA shuold be forbidden to strike, as it is actually a public utility entity We should take the air traffic controllers as an example

Your Name : Melissa
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The union is complaining about money, but don't they realize they're causing commuters to potentially loose money by not being able to get to work and/or are causing people to spent more money by taking cabs to work or driving their car and paying for parking and gas? This is not the best way to get a sympathy vote!

Your Name : septa wife
Your Hometown : nj
Share your commuter story, suggestions : You people have no idea what this is really about. You think they show you the truth on the NEWS??? please! And for most of you who depend on public transportation, well, that is your problem isnt it? If not a strike, what if something else happened and you could not get to where you needed to go???? You should always have a backup and stop expecting things to stay the same. My husband didnt want to go on strike. Its not the workers...its all the high up paid people sitting at 1234 Market who should take a paycut, rather than sit there and drink coffee all day. Stop complaining and find out the true story. And if you dont have a job, dont complain because septa workers do. If you were skilled enough, you would have a job.

Your Name : Angie
Your Hometown : Wynnewood
Share your commuter story, suggestions : My husband took a 20% pay cut and the company he works for has cut all contibutions to 401K. This is the economy we are living in. SEPTA is just plain greedy.

Your Name : Michele
Your Hometown : Marlton
Share your commuter story, suggestions : You should be ashamed of yourselves. You should be thankful you have a job and health benefits. Maybe the people who are out of work will take your jobs. Look at all the people you are being disrespectful to. Think about the children who can't get to school because of your actions. Maybe if you continue to strike for sometime and don't get paid, you will think differently.

Your Name : Ke
Your Hometown : Darby
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It is crazy and is not fair to the working people..I loose money each day i can't get to work and i have three small children, and i have no car so if they were to get sick i couldn't even get them to the doctors. Stop always wanting more and more money and be thankful you have a job at all. You may still get paid while on strike but others don't!

Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Most of these guys are Bus Drivers how much do they think that job is worth? What kind of special skills do you really need? Eleven percent in pension increase seems like an awful lot: so does eleven percent over five years. They're living off of taxpayers as it is with all those government subsidies Fire those jokers! Every time a contract comes up they want more. It can't continue forever. End it now!.


Your Name : frank
Your Hometown : eht nj
Share your commuter story, suggestions : yeah, just what the economy needs a strike so people cant get to work, and an offer on the table. guess its greed.

Your Name : Disgusted
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I know a lot of people who would want to take your place! The Union was very inconsiderate leaving the paying customers stranded like that. How about going to some sensitivity classes you asses!

Your Name : Kelly Carr
Your Hometown : Philadelcations, get to numerous doctors appointments, get around to find a job, or visit my elderly mother at her nursing home. Not being able to visit my mother is the worst thing you could possibly do to me. She is all I have left, and now because of YOU, I can't see her for I don't know how long. Mr. Brown, I hope you are happy with yophia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Thanks to the ignorant, inconsiderate union leaders, especially Mr. Brown, pulling a walk-out when he promised the mayor & the governor the union would stay and negotiate until an agreement was reached. LIAR!! You have now left people like me totally stranded with absolutely NO WAY to get around. Thanks to your selfishness & ignorance, I cannot go grocery shopping, get my many necessary medications, get to numerous doctors appointments, get around to find a job, or visit my elderly mother at her nursing home. Not being able to visit my mother is the worst thing you could possibly do to me. She is all I have left, and now because of YOU, I can't see her for I don't know how long. Mr. Brown, I hope you are happy with yourself for the trouble and the pain you are causing the people who rely SOLELY on SEPTA to get around the city. SHAME ON YOU!

Your Name : Denny
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Why would anyone in there right mind sign a 5 year contract that only has benefits for 4 years why don't they put that on the news.


Your Name : Jim
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA has been striking as long as I can remember. Why let them hold us hostage? Fire all of them and hire new employees.

Your Name : Del
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : REcession. No one is getting a raise, promotion, etc. But without the riders you don't work. So why would you wait until the Philly games was over and then strike, that's cold. that deal is better then the City received, NOTHING

Your Name : Ann
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I have a love/hate relationship with SEPTA. While it's often more convenient and cheaper when traveling around Center City, I find that the drivers are a hit or miss. I am sure that we've all been on buses where the drivers love to jerk the bus and we've lost our balances or where the drivers are pretty rude. It's a tough job, but I really don't think that it's a good time to go on strike. In this recession, when people should be thankful to HAVE jobs and people who don't have jobs need to actually save money on taxi fares, the strike just seems inappropriate. Most of the time, when I am purchasing tokens at the City Hall station, the clerks look unhappy so maybe I don't fully comprehend the reasoning behind the strike. All in all, I think that it's a bad idea to strike today, being elections and all.

Your Name : Bob
Your Hometown : Norristown
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Sorry but I can't blame the union. They have worked for months without a contract while management continued to get their COLA and bonus payments. Why does management wait until a threat of strike to seriously start negotiating. The union certainly could and should have warned the public. I believe the law requiring binding arbitration should be imposed on any union that serves the public. It applies to others who serve the public so why not SEPTA employees, nurses, unemployement workers, etc. I just hope for a quick solution because my son depends on a bus to go to college. And no I am not a union employee and never was.

Your Name : mick ostrowski
Your Hometown : palmyra
Share your commuter story, suggestions : No Union "wants to or expects to strike" Belonging to a Union brings workers together to bargain collectively for wages, benefits and working conditions. If many of the folks writing on this blog were or are Union members they would understand this. In fact if they belonged to a union they would not be so quick to condemn those workers who are in a union. Workers fought hard to get good wages, good benefits, and a decent life for themselves and their families. Join a Union and get what TWU members fought for and won through sacrifice and struggle.



Your Name : 419
Your Hometown : Newark
Share your commuter story, suggestions : How much to drive a bus??? Do what Pres. Reagen did. I don't have a job currently - i'll drive the bus for that money!!! It seems to me that SEPTA has put a very impressive package on the table given the economic climate of today - let the people who really want to work take the jobs that have been walked out on. Unbelievable.


Your Name : Jo Annelise Quasney
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Wow! Where to start,best place God don't like ugly and ain't too fond of pretty neither. Septa this is just plain uuugly How do you all sleep at night with the way you're doing things? I tell you Bernie Madoff has nothing on you and TWU 234. You must be totally without conscience to do what you've done with no forethought as to how this would affect the average person making use of your service. I live on $614 per month from which I have to pay rent and utilities eat and many is the evening my dinner was a peanut butter sandwich, clothe myself and any thing else that just happens to come up. HEALTH INSURANCE, a luxury I can't afford even at $98.28 per month and thanks to your strike I couldn't get to the free clinic today so now I don't even have any medication. I know I'm not the only person out here in this position but I hope you're reading this things and take into consideration that there are a lot of people who would give anything to have the wages you receive and a fraction of your benefits. The City and State government should just step in or up and take over Septa and order you back to work or replace you with someone who will be grateful to have a job.

Your Name : septa wife
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It is real funny how the public is blaming local 234 for the strike, septa is to blame. The members of local 234 have been working in good faith without a contract for quite sometime, while septa's president and the all the vice presidents, along with their massive management pool, still received their cost of living wage increases, bonuses,top of the line major medical health benefits while they are driven to work at mahogany row at 1234 market street where they all have a mininum of 4 administrative assistants. I am a college educated white collar worker and I support my blue collar local 234 husband and the rest of local 234 membership, so if anyone needs to take a paycut its the septa management sitting on mahogany row at 1234 market, who by the way reside outside of phila county, so they are the ones who do not care about the riding public. Do your research/homework, people before you blame the members of local 234

Your Name : Mike G
Your Hometown : East Falls
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Once again the union is holding the city hostage. This should tell us that this union is creating an artificial conflict to increase the money in their pockets and to justify their needless existence. GO TO HELL TWU 234!!!!!!! Nutter and the do-nothing city council should stop this immediately, but hey won't, big surprise!!!!


Your Name : 123
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I've taken the stinkin El every day for 30 yrs. Copy NYC & enact the 'no strike' Taylor Law now. No well-paid w/benefits monopoly should hold a major tax-paying city's commuters hostage. Where are the CEOs of local hospitals, businesses, school district, & state/fed govt speaking for their employees, customers, patients & students? Reporters: investigate. Greedy union rep Brown: your workers only pay $10/wk for healthcare, ride free, get 30 sick days/yr & get paid too much for doing a mediocre job. Septa mgmt: the Board needs to be 5 members from the city or turn this over to be state/federal run agency. Pull the offer off the table. Raise their healthcare payment, lower the raise offered, add layoff & arbitration clause. Play hardball before we lose funding.

Your Name : Ben
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Would it be possible to propose a ballot initiative at an upcoming election to ban striking by transit workers, ala NYC? It's not right that the union can hold the city hostage over contract disputes. They're public servants.

Your Name : Not Happy
Your Hometown : Phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Even with the fact of being stranded this morning,does everybody think that the mayor or govenor really cared if the SEPTA union went out on strike ? All they wanted was to save face with the World Series in town. Game 3 was hardly over, where was the mayor or govenor then ?Why did the union extend their deadline past Friday if they were going to strike anyway ? The impact would have been enormous, there is more going here than meets the media's eye's. Or the public's ear !

Your Name : Tom
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Sorry, Val. I guess you are a union member. I was going to suggest a spit on a TWU memeber day because that is what I feel there union has done to the people of Philadelphia today, but that would not be nice. Gotta start walking home.

Your Name : Bill Kelly
Your Hometown : Delaware
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Please Mr. Mayor: Terminate 25% of these rude, belligerent jerks. Treat the Septa workers just like any business when the going gets really tough---lay them off. Demand givebacks. Don't give them anything----just like we all face on a daily basis in our work places. No new raises or benefits!!!



Your Name : Ghost
Your Hometown : NJ
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The governor held off the strike because he threatened to yank all of Septa's funding if they went on strike during the World Series. Septa wants to deny these workers seniority rights, something NO UNION would EVER allow, so they offered a big raise just so they could wave it in front of the public, calling the union workers greedy for not accepting it. Get the whole story, reporters! This isn't about money, it's about control and blackmail - shame on the governor and shame on Septa!

Your Name : 123
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I've taken the stinkin El every day for 30 yrs. Copy NYC & enact the 'no strike' Taylor Law now. No well-paid w/benefits monopoly should hold a major tax-paying city's commuters hostage. Where are the CEOs of local hospitals, businesses, school district, & state/fed govt speaking for their employees, customers, patients & students? Reporters: investigate. Greedy union rep Brown: your workers only pay $10/wk for healthcare, ride free, get 30 sick days/yr & get paid too much for doing a mediocre job. Septa mgmt: the Board needs to be 5 members from the city or turn this over to be state/federal run agency. Pull the offer off the table. Raise their healthcare payment, lower the raise offered, add layoff & arbitration clause. Play hardball before we lose funding.

Your Name : Val
Your Hometown : West Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The fact that Philadelphia has an 11% unemployment rate has nothing to do with the issues that SEPTA has. I think they should strike until they get what is needed. In the meantime the vast majority of the ridership should realize the importance of SEPTA, and extend some courtesy to the drivers and to each other when then return to work

Your Name : am
Your Hometown : phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : you should be glad you have a job, when so many people are out of work. I will stop rideing the buses and start takeing the train.

Your Name : Chef Don
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Here we go again! The union has shown its true colors. Having said this: it's the people of Philadelphia who count on public transportation the most that are left holding the bag, and will be the ones who pay the tab. If the union was serious about this strike, they would have walked out during the world series but instead the union walked out on the people who pays their saleries. The union and its leadership need to get their priorities in order.

Your Name : D. Hall
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Just like all other septa riders my husband and I bought our transpasses Used it on monday, and wake up the next morning to find out that your on strike how inconsiderate of the workers to just leave the public stranded like that. you no what's going to happen, Septa is going to fire all of your #$% and you best believe there's a whole bunch of new people who would just love to have a JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be thankful you have a job.

Your Name : CC
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I have always been a strong union supporter. At this time and in thhis economy a SEPTA strike is ludricrous. I hope menegement digs in and doesn't budge,

Your Name : Student who takes subway to school
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Well. Getting to school tomorrow should be fun, shouldn't it?

Your Name : Saw It Coming
Your Hometown : Suburb
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The Gov delayed the strike by less than a day. If WS Game 7 was here tonight they would never leave the table until a deal was done. SEPTA you continue to make $$$ at the expense of those you need to support you in the future. Good Luck.

Your Name : JN
Your Hometown : Roxborough , Philly Pa
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think everyone deserves a "fair" raise, but these Septa workers are being greedy. They are getting the same raise as everyone else and during these economic times they are lucky!

Your Name : RR
Your Hometown : Mt. Airy
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Bracing for a packed ride on the R8, and disgusted at a union that would turn down a deal that any private sector worker would envy.

Your Name : Amy H
Your Hometown : Collingswood, NJ
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Who rejects a good offer then goes on strike w/out warning at 3 in the morning? That's just TACKY!!! AND RUDE!!!!

Your Name : josie t
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : fire them! bring in the national guard like the goverment did in april,1947.times are tough like they were back then.

Your Name : Ken B.
Your Hometown : NE Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : And for the record? Unions in this day and age are ridiculous, period. With fair employment laws, minimum wage, competitive employment and government sponsored programs for people who need job training...why do we still need unions, other than greed for lazy over-paid uneducated laborers?

Your Name : Ken B.
Your Hometown : NE Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Seriously? Come on, this is ridiculous! For unskilled labor, they make far too much as it is, and they're striking? The Mayor either needs to change their status to emergency services so that they can't strike, or fire them and open up their jobs to new employees. Think about the boost in local (honest) employment and the new efficiency of SEPTA if you fire these jerks and let some honest, hard working types take the jobs!

Your Name : David
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa employees should be happy they even have a job. Many of the people in the booths at some El stops do nothing all day. Some don't even sell tokens and heaven forbid that you don't have excat change! It's the worst and so are it's greedy employees and it's union. Maybe it's time we pickett the Union's headquarters on 2nd Street and show them how much they have made our lifes difficult. Is it any wonder riders are rude to the drivers? They certainly don't think about the passengers. All they want is more, more more! Let's talk health care! I lost my job because of the economy and my heath insurance along with it. And these greedy S.O.B.'s want even more?!?! What a bunch of crap that is!



Your Name : resident
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : in this moment of intense financial hardship for millions of Americans across this country, not just here in Philadelphia. You REFUSE a very generous offer from SEPTA management. you obviously do not read the papers or watch any news programs, that discuss the businesses that are trying to take back contract mandated raises, incentives and/or bonuses for blue collar workers. and I can't seem to remember a year when my health insurance co-pay DID NOT GO UP. you hold us prisoner, we have been kidnapped. I'd give you your 4 percent, however binding arbitration and no strike clause would be the new offer.

Your Name : Totally fed up
Your Hometown : NE Philly (am sorry to say)
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Have limited sympathy with what the operators have to put up with some passengers (was a passenger for years until my company relocated to a nonaccessable SEPTA location). This call to walk out @ 3AM with no notice to loyal patrons once again makes Philly the laughing stock of the nation. IMO the union, like the police & fire fighters unions, should not be permitted to strike - just binding arbitration. When I look @ SEPTA's starting wages & perks, including free travel, they are just spoiled rotten - especially with MANY folks who wouldn't mind doing what they do in a heartbeat, especially with a very high unemployment rate. Think it's time to have a competing system!

Your Name : john dietsche
Your Hometown : south philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I'm glad septa went on strike,now bike riders will be safe when commuting,septa bus drivers are always cutting bike riders off and there always in the bike lane

Your Name : b. davis
Your Hometown : philadephia, pa
Share your commuter story, suggestions : blame the union reps not the workers this was the worst for the public not to find until 3am SHAME ON YOU!!!

Your Name : Irate Commuter
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Simple answer to this dilemna... discontinue the use of unions. Just another form of politics and who ends up suffering... the RIDERS... the union should stop whining about their already overpaid salaries and get those members back behind the wheel... In this economy just be glad you union jerks have a job...

Your Name : Disgruntled and on strike
Your Hometown : Philadephia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : First of all let me start by saying that I have worked for septa for over 16 years now. And in 16 years nothing has changed, None of us wanted a strike and most of us wasn't even aware that it had happened until we were on our way to work this morning, the same as most of the paying public. If you believe that my job is so easy please be my guest and go to 1234 market street and put a resume in, septa is always hiring. But remember this that everyday you will be picking up the same miserable people day in and day out who are mostly never happy if you show up or not. Who curse you out when you stop for them when the bus in front of you passes them, who throw crap at you, spit at you, assault you, shoot at you, as your driving down the street, and to be constantly watched by septa, via cameras on the buses to try to catch a driver doing something so they can find any little reason to fire you over something stupid. We have to watch for people who want to get onto the bus, for people who want to get off of the bus, other drivers that think it's a big game to beat and cut the bus off. So yes if you think I get paid to much then be my guest and try it for a week I guarantee you won't make it thru a week before quitting!

Your Name : c.s
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It really must be nice to demand a 4% increase, not have to pay premiums for health care, not have to pay copays for anything, and get a hefty pension and a hefty salary when people are loosing their jobs all over the city. How about all of the unemployed willing to pay a premium and copay take all of these Septa workers jobs, and have the Septa employees try to find a job as good as the one they have with all of the great benefits, and not have their company get bailed out every single year by us the taxpayer who pays their salary. Wake up people, the reason our taxes are going up is because of this type of thing all the time. How many people out there got a 4% raise and no raise in healthcare cost. Not one single person that I know. Everybody I know got 0% raise and now pay more for healthcare.

Your Name : Edward Costello
Your Hometown : Glenolden PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The TWU has basically thumbed their noses at the everyday working guy. How can they turn down a contract with the terms that were offered - it's completely outrageous. Nobody that I know of is getting such a sweet deal and yet these union thugs are out there complaining about not being respected - I cannot respect anyone that wants to soak me for more money when they were given a fair deal to begin with. They need to get off their butts and get back to work so that people like me can go and do the jobs we have to in order to pay them. I'm sick of this - how much more blood do they want from the city, state and the riders? I cannot blame the management of SEPTA for this this is all on the head of the TWU - they want respect well guess what they get none from me.....

Your Name : TK
Your Hometown : Northeast
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Trust in man, and you can be let down, Trust in God and He will never let you down. Today I had to pay full fare to ride the regional train, after buying a weekly transpass. I work in a hospital and pay healthcare benefits, but unlike SEPTA, I am extremely grateful for having a job. If they did not give me an increase over the next five years I would still be thankful to HAVE a job and benefits. Greed is what is ruining our country. Lets be grateful for what we have and stop trying to have everything.

Your Name : Stephanie
Your Hometown : Philadelphia (and ashamed!)
Share your commuter story, suggestions : GOOD! So far the overwhelming number of comments are from people who think Local 234 is GREEDY and SNEAKY. Looks like you shot yourselves in the foot - no one in Philadelphia will support you. Unless you get back to work now, it's going to be a long time between pay checks - and the holidays are coming. Is this the example you set for your children?


Your Name : mandy
Your Hometown : sewell
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think this is just wrong. I come from a strong union family and agree everyone deserves a fair deal but in this case these people start out at a higher rate than I have after a bachelors in paralegal studies. Where's the justice in that? This greed is out of control!

Your Name : Glenn G.
Your Hometown : Philadelphia, PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA workers have the right to strike when it's time for their contract renewal. BUT!!! The way they did it this time without giving their customers any notice is terrible. They could have at least given 24 hours notice for people to make other plans for getting into work, etc. This was a big mistake by SEPTA because they have really angered their riders who otherwise may have supported them. I was one of those riders and as far as I'm concerned, to hell with the lot of them. On a daily basis most of the SEPTA workers are miserable and rude anyway. With this strike occurring as it did, they have concretely shown that have no concern for the public they are supposed to serve.

Your Name : Eve
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I am Tired of being held hostage by SEPTA. Enough is enough!!!!! Get the union out of there!

Your Name : Bridget
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think the union is being greedy. They want health insurance to stay at 1%, pension payments to go up and a raise! Lets face it people have lost jobs have had no raises and/or and increase in the health insurance. Everyone has been effected by the recession the union should be no different

Your Name : Joe
Your Hometown : Voorhees
Share your commuter story, suggestions : with 14 million people out of work I think Septa could find a couple million that would be happy to drive a bus for $52K

Your Name : RTB
Your Hometown : Port Richmond
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Unbelievable! Most of us in the private sector have wage freezes on and our insurance copays continue to rise. We'd all jump at a chance to get what Septa's offering. We've given so much to the Septa employees over the years and still they hold the city hostage. Why doesn't the rank and file revolt and defy the morons they elected to lead them? They should all be ashamed!

Your Name : M. Schell
Your Hometown : North Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : A large portion of these SEPTA workers should be fired, then the city should began the search for a new transit system to compete with this petty bus company!!!

Your Name : Stranded
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I agree, we should strike against the union that caused this all. They should fire anyone that does not show up for work. There are millions of americans with out jobs that would love to have a job that is stable and even has a pension and health care. Let them work if you want to be greedy and bleed the citizens dry.

Your Name : Michelle
Your Hometown : Lansdowne
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think in the currrent economic crisis this country is in SEPTA employees should be thankful they have a job. I find it amazing that health insurance is not going up. How come everyone else have increases in medical copays and they don't? I know people who work for insurance companies and they have increases. Who's paying for all the increases in medicine and doctor's visit. I mean a loaf of bread cost more today that before.

Your Name : sick of septa
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : can't we find someone to run another transit company competition is good besides septa employees are rude and ignorant and they get away with it.

Your Name : Cathy
Your Hometown : South Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Greed!! How can people with no college education make so much money , have excellent benefits and pensions believe that they are ENTITLED to pick what assignments they get. Geesh!! I should have never went to college or graduate school!! SEPTA employees make more money than teachers and social workers. Why tell our children to go to school and get an education. Become a SEPTA employee ...it pays better!!

Your Name : Fire anyone not showing up to work
Your Hometown : PHL
Share your commuter story, suggestions : If I don;t show up to work I get FIRED. That is how septa should handle then. They are greedy, most lazy, the union officials are only sucking blood and money from the honest workers and the people of the city.

Your Name : D Doran
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The workers should have a fair contract, but dont prevent the riding public from getting to their jobs, school, whatever. The union should work as long as the talks continue and that should be where the focus is, continuing the talks and getting a contract everyone can agree on.

Your Name : Friend of septa WORKER
Your Hometown : I hate to say this Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It is the attitude of all of your comments and your hateful remarks that these workers have to put up with. They are you neighbors and family. I'm not talking about the union reps or the owners or management. I'm talking about the men and women who put up with all this stuff. I for one AM AGAINST strikes but sometimes you have to "holler" to have your voice heard. Yes a lot of people are out of work but who put them there??? not the SEPTA employees. and yes they can quit but then they are just another unemployed person your supporting. (if your working) If you want to make a difference instead of bashing ALL UNION employees Use your voice where it counts boycott SEPTA find other way to work, Make it count in their (management) pockets. Stop crying about do something constructive.

Your Name : RE: William B
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : u are wrong, they are hurting the people of this city, holding them hostage for their greed.

Your Name : Shelly
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : This was going to hapen eventually. It is ridiculous that this wasn;t settled months ago.

Your Name : Tom
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : u get pensions. most jobs don't offer pensions anymore you greedy losers. I hope Septa fires all of you.

Your Name : Gail Brown
Your Hometown : Phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I need Septa to get to the drs and hospital.It was not a nice thing to do to us and 3'o clock in the morning.I hope that you get what you want so you can get back to work I need the bus.

Your Name : Joe
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Listening to KYW this morning I heard the TWU president comment that they got the fans to the game and got them home. Their reward was the latest SEPTA proposal. So we are going on strike. Doesn't this moron know that this is their job and their reward is the fact that, unlike over 15% of our population they have jobs. The timing of their action is unforgiveable and truly show the current TWU leadership is completely out of touch with reality and has no regard for the riding public.

Your Name : RE: friend of septa worker
Your Hometown : Southwest Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I say "good morning" and "thank you" to my septa operator EVERYDAY! I pay my fare, and I don't complain. I always try my best to be kind and courteous. Unfortunately, my kindness didn't get me to work this morning...my car did! I think people would agree in saying that we don't HAVE to be thankful that someone is doing a job that they are getting paid to do nor should we thank you for not striking during the World Series. The union did that for their own benefit!!! I would not doubt that they probably got kick-backs from the MLB for staying in business til the series moved back to NYC!!!! Not only are they getting paid to do it, but they have a decent salary with GREAT benefits! I am sorry there is loud music on the trains, and I apologize that there are unrulely children on the buses, but that is their JOB! If they don't want their jobs, I have at least six friends who will lose their jobs this week due to this strike who are MORE than willing to take on that task. Please pass that message on to your friend! Oh...and please give me the number of your friends supervisor, I think I might want to work for septa too! Do they also provide tuition reimbursement?!?

Your Name : Jesse
Your Hometown : Phildelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think this time the union has showed that they truly don't care about the people who actually pay their wages.Any time you are paid in some cases 10.0to 11.0 hours for a run that actually works maybe7 hours with a swing(a couple hours that they are not driving)and still get payed.11.5% over 5years in this economey was a no brainer.Your union leadership clearly out of touch and should be ashamed of their actions. Even if you had to work a year without a contract what was offered was fair.I.ve backed your actions for years but this time tour greed has turned me off. Whats needed is ,another transportation company. YOU GUYS ARE THE PITS.

Your Name : ENOUGH FROM UNIONS
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Unions have become too greedy! All the workers on strike should be fired! Any elected official that receives any type of donation from a union or supports these contracts should be VOTED OUT OF OFFICE!

Your Name : jane
Your Hometown : PHILADELPHIA not for long
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I share and would mirror every thought shared by Christina B. I am in favor of unions so were my grandfather and father, but this TWU is a disgrace and they have slapped the face of the people who need them. Really lets you know what it is all about...NO ONE calls me a liberal....believe me ..but too much is too much...and I blame the people in charge of the city more than the BUS DRIVERS...misappropriations in this city continue to keep it the dirtiest lowest of all in the nation...and until we change that nothing will change....so I plan to change my zip code...GOOD LUCK PHILLY..you will need it.

Your Name : C
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Wow!the phillies won another but people were left stranded at work or school but they aren't important. Now until you guys make your secret decisions not on matters placed on the table but how much will the rates go up this time? Issues that are important for the public doesn't seem to matter. The future tell me that Septa will be out soon and replace with a company that cares. This is something the public needs to think about Replacement!!!!

Your Name : Tom
Your Hometown : Newtown
Share your commuter story, suggestions : They should be thankful they have jobs. Drop kick the union out of there and hire people who want to and will work. The economy sucks and everyone is feeling the pain. Time for the union to realize they can not drive companies into bankruptcy or engage in behaviors that endanger others livelihoods.

Your Name : Beatrice
Your Hometown : N.E.Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It was very sneaky of the union to go out in the middle of the night,stranding thousands of commuters. In these tough economic times,the workers of septa should be grateful that they even have jobs!!!!!!!!!!!Get back to the bargaining table and stop holding septa riders hostage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your Name : William B.
Your Hometown : East Norriton
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Maybe all the haters should just let the collective bargaining process work itself out. This is still America and these employees have every right to withhold their labor. If there is no right to strike then issues are settled by BINDING arbitration. Also if Nutter and Rendell don't recognize the huge difference between SEPTA and the union pensions then their heads must be in the sand. There are two sides to every dispute!

Your Name : RE: friend of septa worker
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : do you see a pattern here? No one supports your greedy union, the public is fed up with them more than Septa itself. DE-Unionize NOW!!!

Your Name : Tiff
Your Hometown : Center City
Share your commuter story, suggestions : privatize septa.

Your Name : bob
Your Hometown : south street
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa and especially the greedy union that work for them need to go, this city hates you now more than ever.

Your Name : Cindy Davis
Your Hometown : Northern Liberties
Share your commuter story, suggestions : the union should be ashamed for doing what they did to the people of this city. that package was good, I hope they take it back and fire u all. oh, and I am a union worker too and would have loved to have gotten that contract offer.

Your Name : Latoya
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Transit workers are rude they don't will ride right pass you if u speak and say thank you half of them says nothing in return the have nasty disposition and they want more money don't give them nothing they don't deserve it all these people they are making miss work that only make 7 dollars a hour that rent will be short or late they should be ashame of theirself for being so greedy

Your Name : MARY
Your Hometown : PHILA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : FIRE ALL OF THEM !!! UNIONS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED. ITS NOT THE 1930'S. MY HUSBAND CAN'T GET TO HIS MRI APPT.FOR A BLOCKAGE IN HIS HEART.

Your Name : Kerry
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Two words for SEPTA..HIRE SCABS! There are plenty of out of work people who will do the job for less and be happy with that.

Your Name : Steve
Your Hometown : Spring Garden
Share your commuter story, suggestions : For those of you bashing Nutter, SEPTA is not a city department. It's an authority created under state law. (The "A" in SEPTA stand for "Authority".) Learn some civics. Hey SEPTA workers: Greed has a way of coming back to bite you.

Your Name : RE friend of septa worker
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : "the union reps are probably greedy" are u kidding me? you probably are a septa worker posing as a sympathizer. The UNION is WRONG in this case. GREEDY

Your Name : re: friend of septa worker
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : trolling the board are we? Septa sucks, that much is true, but the septa union and TWU are twice as bad now and have little to no support from the public they screwed over. This stunt makes all unions look bad. Way to go TWU, you are a joke!

Your Name : RE: friend of septa worker
Your Hometown : northeast philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Am I supposed to thank these jerks?? are you kidding? They think they have it sooooo hard. Get over it. their greed has hurt this city. Yes, the Septa company are corrupt and greedy too but this time the Union is more wrong than they are. they are overpaid, rude, and lazy. get rid of them, de-unionize septa now!!!

Your Name : Brandon
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I really hope that the city would be able to fire the Septa workers and hire non-union workers.

Your Name : Re: Friend of septa worker
Your Hometown : phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Dear Friend of Septa worker. If they don't like the job, quit!!! Don't give me boo hoo stories about how hard their job is, they should be happy to have one. they are a joke and need to go. I should thank them? they shoudl thank me for not smacking their greedy butts.

Your Name : Robby
Your Hometown : Center City
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The Septa union needs to go!!! they make me sick.

Your Name : Friend of SEPTA worker
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Striking for the most part is wrong. TWU agreed to postpone the strike till after the WS games So as not to give Philly a bad rep. (When have you known the mayor and governor to get involved at the begining of the talks) But too there was no agreeable compromise either. Most of the people in Philly don't really know what an operator has to deal with every day. No benefits really is worth it but most will put up with the obnoxius people running late and blame the bus because they couldn't get out of bed. The kids going and coming from school who don't care and get on with out paying, cursing out the driver, throwing things, loud music, etc.... and when its raining and the bus is full ..... well its not pleasant. We all should be thankful these drivers do what they do and instead of complaining next time, just say thanks..... yes the union reps are probably greedy but they were all in the same boat and know what the men and women are worth. the management are the ones who should get the cuts and not have benefits and be made to ride the buses and trains at least a couple of times a month then maybe they would be more willing to give the drivers what they deserve

Your Name : Bobbie
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I have been a union and a non-union worker. This is one time when I think the Union is wrong. There are so many people who have lost their jobs and unable to find another on. I never thought that I would wish that someone could switch positions with someone elso, but this time I wish that some of the umemployed or underemployed could switch places with you. Walk a mile in their shoes.

Your Name : Charles
Your Hometown : North Wales
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I read what was offered and the Union decided they wanted MORE!! I see the Union does not care that this strike is effecting more than just those who joined the union!!

Your Name : eric .b
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The hell with those greedy people. Why are we, the riders, not being reimbursed for what we paid for transpasses!!?

Your Name : Angry
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : what a pathetic waste this septa union is. greedy, lazy slobs.

Your Name : Maureen
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The septa union lost me as a supporter. They are WRONG in this case and should be ashamed of themselves. They only care about themselves, not the people they hurt.

Your Name : ben
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : At this economy situation, America should dump all Union worker, it is old thing back 40 years ago. If there is nothing change from this point, this country will get real trouble. You can find the result of GM and other American company.

Your Name : shawn
Your Hometown : Bucks county
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa: Fire them all all and hire workers that don't sit on their butts and actually work. And get rid of the union because they are too greedy.

Your Name : Joe
Your Hometown : Chinatown
Share your commuter story, suggestions : This city needs a new transit company that is non-union and does not hire all the greedy workers that currently work for them now. But being how corrupt this city is, that will never happen.

Your Name : Embarrased to be from philly
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa and it's Union: Shame of the city.

Your Name : Debbie Mowrey
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : How currupt can all these people be. Alot of people in this city have no job and you want what a pay raise! I HOPE EVERY ONE IS FIRED. You are all over paid to begin with

Your Name : Kenso
Your Hometown : Kenso
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I hope the union loses its offer the got for being so greedy. I hate them and no longer support them.

Your Name : Philly
Your Hometown : Phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : don't give all the blame to septa people! this time it's more the fault of the greedy union than Septa itself.

Your Name : Sue Ebner
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I can not believe that this happened. I always said that Septa has the best marketing ploy the hight cost of gas butthey are too stupid to use it instead that strike and get more people mad at them. I hope it it no a long strike

Your Name : Barry
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The Septa union has got to be one of the most corrupt, greedy unions in this country.

Your Name : Christina B.
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : As we find ourselves in another economic crisis with people losing their jobs and health care to boot, others facing loss of increased wages and savings while having to contribute more to benefits than ever, it doesn't seem like the Transport Workers Union cares a damn about the common man. Unions were essentially a movement of the common person unified against corporate greed, and I stand by those ideals, and my grandfather would turn over in his grave for me to say otherwise. But I see this strike as a transfer of greed to the worker, hiding behind the endeared concept of the old-fashioned ?Union? our fathers and grandfathers were in. By speaking against this strike, I?ve been told I?m anti-union and a conservative. Of which, I am neither. This Union doesn't seem very common when its workers, who reportedly earn an average $52,000 a year, striked over an annual 4% wage hike and want to keep the current 1% contribution they make toward the cost of their health care coverage. (The masses don't have universal health care. If you want that, you should vote and write to your legislators to get it for everyone like I do, not strike to keep basically free coverage just for yourself. Oh wait, you can?t vote because you can?t get there now.) Our Philly teachers' union, which my sister is in, contributes to their health care. SEPTA offered an 11.5 percent wage increase over 5 years, with a $1,250 signing bonus in the first year, and increases in workers' pensions. How many other companies can even think about offering during this recession? Our tax payers face brutal traffic without a public transportation system fully working (missing hours at work that could help turn around our local economy), and others (like myself who do not own a car) cannot use the service we?re paying for?I already paid my monthly fee. So, if I have the straight, I can?t get to work without spending more money to, am not getting a raise or bonus this year, and am making nothing in my 401k, but my taxes will be partly paying for your ?rights? as a Transit Union member. Awesome. Unions came to exist so the common man wasn?t exploited. I feel bad for the people who unified to stop real problems: child labor, long work hours, poor and unsafe working conditions, job insecurity. I feel bad for the people who make up the 928,000 trips taken each weekday. And I really feel bad for the people, especially the elderly and disabled, who can?t get out to vote today because of this strike-- because that is a real RIGHT that they took away through their actions of striking at 3 am last night. For what? More money when you have a secure job with a raise, bonus, and great benefits package?

Your Name : Stephen J. DeMaio
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Why don't they just raise the fare a nickel and give these guys a decent living? We want dependable happy SEPTA drivers!And have the brass get laid off and take a pay cut. We need SEPTA like we need water & electricity!

Your Name : now anti-union
Your Hometown : Phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : if you support the septa union after reading the contract offer they got you should have your head examined and be ashamed of yourself. Their union is disgusting and have no support from me.

Your Name : Dot
Your Hometown : Lansdowne
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa workers should be ashamed of themselves. There are millions of people out of work with no health insurance no raises some are losing their houses and these jokers are striking and standing around with Picket signs, no sympathy from me. So Septa workers what are you going to feed your children this winter? Fire Septa bring in private contractors!

Your Name : CC
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : This city needs a new public transportation service.Get rid of Septa.

Your Name : fed up
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : DE-Unionize Septa now!!! their greed has gone too far!!!

Your Name : Sean
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : This really shows that the Union does not care about the community it serves. Shameful that 1 Million people are stranded.

Your Name : Aisha
Your Hometown : North Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I lost a day's worth of pay here because of Septa and it's union, mainly the union. Yes Septa was wrong for not giving them a contract for a year but when it was offered (which was good) they (greedy) turned it down and left the people to fend for themselves. The Union is the greater evil in this case. I hope they go to hell and lose their jobs they don't deserve.

Your Name : Dave
Your Hometown : Overbrook
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I usually support the septa union againts that crap company Septa but in this case the union is wrong!!! Shame on you and your greed. most people would love to be offered that contract.

Your Name : Jose V.
Your Hometown : Northeast Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : To hell with the Septa union! I would love to get the contract they are being offered. Lay them all off and hire me, I need a job.

Your Name : Mrs C
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I said last week they were going to wait until the World Series went back to NY strike and I was right. No notice what about all of those people who depend on septa to provide transportation. They are being greedy because they know they are the only game in town. I say we strike septa and let them see how it feels.

Your Name : Tony
Your Hometown : South Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The City needs to pass a law to make public transit strike illegal like police and fire fighters but this city is so corrupt it won't do that, just like the septa union is corrupt and greedy. FIRE THEM ALL!!!

Your Name : Kevin
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Funny but I work in the private sector and just yesterday I was told that my portion of my healthcare would rise by 29% and deductibles went up 50%..I did not get a raise this year and I can be laid off at any time. I'd still take the private sector over some sleazy union job where there is no accountability. Unions have no place in our culture anymore. They were fine back in the days of worker abuse...not it seems the workers abuse the system. Shame on you people.

Your Name : Marge
Your Hometown : Mayfair
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Screw the union, fire them all. This stunt makes me anti-union now. The offer was more than fair and their greed makes me sick.

Your Name : Robin
Your Hometown : South Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : These people at Septa make a very decent salary...half of them don't even have a high school diploma for gods sakes.



Your Name : Pop
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : For once Septa is not at fault here, but the union is. Their unrealistic demands and greed have harmed the people of this city. take back the offer and give them nothing!!!

Your Name : Jamtiff
Your Hometown : Philadelphia, PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : "GREED" I wonder what would septa do if we don't ride their trains or buses. If we find our way around for how ever long this strike last, and not ride Septa when the strike ends. If you carpool, bike ride, skateboard, form a van services to pick up at bus stops and train stations charging only what it would cost to ride the bus or train, just start helping one another and not ride septa, what then will they do. They have to much POWER over us this is why they can do this whenever they want. Let's not give this power to them anymore. Normally I am for fighting for what one needs, not want. However they have not taken into consideration the struggles of others, 11.5 percent, for some would be a blessing. No increase in health care payments, some people don't have health care.


Your Name : Trisha
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The Septa Union has no support here. They cost me a day's pay. Greedy losers! I hate them.

Your Name : Steve D
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa should fire all the union workers and hire all the people on unemployment....like me!

Your Name : mary K
Your Hometown : Bensalem
Share your commuter story, suggestions : take back the contract offer and lay them all off!!! there are plenty of deserving people that could use those well paid jobs.

Your Name : Disgruntled Rider
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Just a thought on "wanting it all". I think asking for a raise is fine, but only if it is fair. Who else in this country has a no-layoff clause in their work contract. Maybe the union should take less in order for the job security. Or, insist on the raises and accept that when times are bad, your members can be laid off to cut costs. Look at the Big Auto unions. They had to take cuts because their employers have problems. The difference is that SEPTA asks the state for more money. Fast Eddie needs to cut the SEPTA subsidy and let SEPTA and its unions manage its cost on fares alone. Let SEPTA and its union live or die on their own merits. If they fail, another entity will happily take their place.

Your Name : Jason Robards
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : for the septa workers that don't agree with their leaders should fire them!!! if you do agree then you should be ashamed of yourself for declining that offer. The greed is disgusting!!!

Your Name : Michele
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : This who situation is a disgrace. Why did the union go all this time without a contract? Why is the union being so greedy? There is no excuse to wait this long to even start talking a new contract. It's disgusting that we the citizens are USED as barganing chips in their contract and not we have to suffer. Septa and the union makes me sick! Theu nion should be greatful they even have a job. If I demanded a huge pay increase like that and all the other demands they have I would be laughed right out of a job! It's time too gorw up union 234. We are all suffering but what right does uneducated ruded bus driver have to even ask for that much for a salary. Most ppl with a college education doesn't even make anywhere near $50,000 a year and do not even have health insurance. Septa definitely lost a customer.

Your Name : Donna
Your Hometown : West Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Dear Septa, I will gladly work for you at the starting rate of $15 an hour. When the economy improves we can discuss a raise percentage. I will pay 25% into my heath care costs and you can leave my pension plan as it is now. Considering I make slightly above minimum wage at my current job with no health benefits, no pension plan, and have not had a raise nor will I get one in the future (due to the bad economy) I think it would be a win win situation for both of us. I imagine there are many people without a job who feel the same. Expect our resumes. Thank you.

Your Name : Melissa
Your Hometown : Feasterville
Share your commuter story, suggestions : This is pure greed. The vast majority of business and employers are cutting back on benefits for their employees. They should be thanking their lucky stars that they're being offered what they are. The vast majority of people affected by this strike don't get half the benefits of SEPTA employees.

Your Name : Bobby
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I read the contract offer and it was more than fair, in fact quite good in this economy. How dare the union strike, greedy bums!!! I hope they fire them all and hire people that deserve to work. To leave people in the lurch the way they did was a disgrace. The TWU makes unions look bad.

Your Name : Tacony boy
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : fire them all and hire people that are less greedy. They got a great offer and they walked off, screwing the public for their own greedy wants. I hate Septa too, but right now, the union is much worse. they lost the support of another union worker.

Your Name : j
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : the govenor should declare an emergency and demand that they return to work or pink slip.

Your Name : michael cohen
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA is the biggest waste of money . If this company would just tighten up a little and stop wasting so much money they would be able to operate in the black and give there employes rasies . There is so mush waste in there repair centers that it is a joke . They will pay someone to sweep out a bus and tell him to do no more than 2 buses a day .

Your Name : Timothy R.
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think the Septa union is a greedy disgrace. The contract that was offered to them was awesome by today's standards. I'm in a union and my job does not offer anything near that. Then they have the nerve to walk off at 3am without giving the public advance notice to get prepared. The Septa union lost many suporters today because of their stunt. I hope the company takes back the offer and gives them crap and then lays them all off.

Your Name : Muhammad Khan
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA should return their money Back who already bought monthly and weekly passes.How we gonna waste our money if we not travel in the buses and trains.SEPTA should thank about that.Everybody work hard for living and i couldn't get to work today because their strike.

Your Name : PhillyJoe
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think that both sides have issues, but I have friends who, as union workers, told me how they milk the overtime system. I think that unless Septa can function at a breakeven level, noone should get increases. Every new contract leads to higher fares as well as more state funding. At some point, everyone will have to give, including the union. They should not be exempt from what everyone else faces at their jobs with regards to pension, healthcare and job security. As someone laid off, I would like a no layoff clause.

Your Name : Jarrett Graves
Your Hometown : Roxboro, Pa
Share your commuter story, suggestions : the strike is an absolute joke- if you need money= get rid of the many workers that do nothing. I have a friend that works there and does nothing but call me and let me know, that he is sitting on his you know what and getting paid. Lets not kid eachother. If they all did there job. We wouldnt need as many, and who suffers then, the union, not enough dues, get real and wake up

Your Name : JULIUS MAY
Your Hometown : PHILADELPHIA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I'm very angry with the TWU because my perfect attendance for classes every week to get my GED is in jeopardy.

Your Name : richo
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Fire them all. There are plenty of people that would be happy to have a job, and alos happy to serve the public better than these lazy union losers.

Your Name : Cyndi
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I really think SEPTA needs to wake up. What a horrible way to do things while everyone is sleeping...

Your Name : K. Lewis
Your Hometown : Malvern
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Unions are ridiculous. They broke the back of american car makers, now they're breaking the backs of everyday Philadelphians who just want to get to work. With Negative inflation, they already have a raise. I say fire them all, and hire a whole new group of people who would love to work for 30k a year, never mind the ridiculous pay the union gets for not even having any education.

Your Name : Cindy
Your Hometown : Horsham
Share your commuter story, suggestions : This is a disgrace to the city. Who do the Septa workers think they are leaving all these people stranded without a way to get to work, most people are stuggling in this economy and can't afford to miss a days pay!!! Its just not right.

Your Name : Edna
Your Hometown : Lansdale
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I lived in Philly for most of my life and used SEPTA most of it..these guys ought to be glad they have a job in this economy, and to walk out in the middle of the night they ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Your Name : Nancy
Your Hometown : University City
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Mary Kaminski for Mayor! :)

Your Name : Dianna
Your Hometown : Lansdowne
Share your commuter story, suggestions : We all wish we could have the benefits that the Septa employees seem to have...who has a pension these days? Greed here?

Your Name : Joe
Your Hometown : Boothwyn
Share your commuter story, suggestions : As a former employee I know they are heavy with management. It used to be about 2 hourly people per one boss. Maintenance craft employees are paid less than their private counterparts. The public should be mad at SEPTA management and the Democratic government that dosn't care about the working class men and women. Can't blame Republicans this time. How do you like "Change"

Your Name : Tom Kerrigan
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA and the TWU should be moved out and a whole new organization should run our transit system. They were given a chance. Now it is time for them to step aside. There are plenty of people who would be glad to make the money that they were offered. Both organizations have seriously inconvenienced the people of Philadelphia. Dump them all.

Your Name : Bob
Your Hometown : Mays Landing
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Now is the time everything that was offered should be pulled from the table. Offer them no wage increase, increased contributions to health insurance and NO pension at all. Take it or leave it. It's time they realize what the real world is like!

Your Name : Melissa
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Good Job Septa. You are worried about 11% raises. I had my raise taken away ohh and my health insurance went up and any overtime was taken away. Nice to know we are not short of greedy people. How dare you strand people trying to make a living. Yeah, you are so lucky no one was killed or assulted because you left them in the middle of an unknown area. But who cares about honest people when all you think about is $$$. If Philadelphia was SMART they would put a law stating that if unions strike they must give the people it affects notice. But that is typical of Philadelphia who cares about the people just the ALMIGHTY DOLLAR. Just as I thought Philadelphia could care less if people are safe then you wonder why people want to move.

Your Name : Nancy
Your Hometown : University City
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Mary from Roxborough is right - transit workers should be prohibited from striking by law. Not only should their jobs be on the line, maybe the mayor's should be too if this law doesn't get put into effect pronto!

Your Name : Cheryl Bowman
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Thank you SEPTA for the $35.00 Taxi fare that it cost me to get to work this morning! You are being so greedy that someone should slap you in the face! In my opinion, you don't deserve half of what you are being offered and to turn it down, how dare you! I wish I only had to contribute 1% for my health insurance. You should be thankful for what you have and try living with people who need jobs, then you can start complaining! Get back to work because unfortunately I have to take SEPTA. I only wish another company would come in and give you competition, then let's see if you would be so damn greedy.

Your Name : Pat
Your Hometown : Drexel Hill
Share your commuter story, suggestions : As someone who did not receive a raise last year, and from the bleak financial picture so far, is not likely to receive a raise this year, and oh, by the way, did have medical insurance deductibles increase as well, I say, NO SYMPATHY FROM ME! Fire them all and hire people who would be happy to work!

Your Name : Melisa
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : i think this is some bull@$#$%$ we need to get to work and school thise worker didnt even think abiut the children and how they would get back and forth ti school they need there education, but i bet there kids have a way and are they going to reinburse us for our transpasses?

Your Name : Jamie
Your Hometown : Phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Go on counterstrike! Picket the picketers! Say no to their greed! If they were in any other profession, they would never strike so often.

Your Name : Joe B
Your Hometown : Media
Share your commuter story, suggestions : You Kidding Me!! These workers should be happy they have a job, especially in this economy. Maybe they should all be fired and hire some of the millions of people out of work for $8/hr. Then maybe they'd appreciate what they lost. A total slap in the face to all who are struggling.

Your Name : A. Gomez
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA workers should face the facts that NO ONE should be getting any raises in today's economy. I've had my salary reduced by 30% just to keep my job. My husband's benefits were cancelled completely and most of my friends are unemployed right now. They should feel thankful that they have a job with benefits. SEPTA WORKERS GET BACK TO WORK!

Your Name : Angela Brooks
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : ...And the worse - to steal the cost of my weekly transpass - wait until the Game was over - then stab us commuters in our b(l)acks.

Your Name : Natasha Jackson
Your Hometown : East Oak Lane/ Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think this is so unfair for septa workers to go on strike especially with no notice. The ironic portion of this matter is Septa/TWA Union Workers want MORE money but they are stopping the rest of us from making any. What about US!!!!!!!! I think the deal you guys were offered was feasible (I guess) How about this you have caused the rest of us to find another alternative to reach our destination how about we continue to do it and you guys really would have to seek other employment since your that unhappy I am very upset with Septa lack of fair warning and I woukld like my money back for the transpass I purchased for NOVEMER

Your Name : Brian M
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : We should be blaming the UNION not SEPTA. SEPTA did all they could in offering the local 234 the best deal they could afford which in my opinion was outrageously generous to begin with. The Mayor needs to step in and either force the union back to work or Remove the union and replace them with workers that will be grateful to be employed in these harsh times.

Your Name : Livia
Your Hometown : South Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I have lived here all my life and have put up with Septa strikes over the years. We need to have another transit company in the city who will give Septa a run for its money.

Your Name : Stephanie (still more....)
Your Hometown : Philadelphia, PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It looks like Local 234 has NO ONE on their side. Transportation strikes and other similar actions should be made illegal. Anyone who wants to strike should find himself/herself without a job because it will have gone to someone who wants to work!

Your Name : Mary
Your Hometown : South Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : SEPTA's on strike, the Parking Authority is so aggressive they have their own show, a bike rider hit and killed a pedestrian...why is getting around this city so difficult? I wish I was a local politician and could just watch all this from the back of my chauffeured car.

Your Name : Woodrow Sloan
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Who do Septa workers think they are. People are losing thier jobs by the thousands and wishing they could have medical befits, yet they turn down no increase in medical benefits, a fair contribution to thier pensions. What more do they want?

Your Name : Joe M
Your Hometown : Northeast Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The union is corrupt, they hold the citizens hostage. If the reports are true 11% over 5 years - no change in medical benefits - then guess what stay on strike and I hope you get less. The drivers are some of the most ignorant people, and customer service doesn't exist. And it's not the management of SEPTA it's the union members. I believe unions have a place in society but when it over steps it's bound then it has gone to far. You drive a bus, and usually not well, you're not curing cancer. Stay on strike you losers, and maybe then you'll known what it's like when you have no job and you can't feed your family. Enjoy your time off.

Your Name : Tye
Your Hometown : Phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Thats beacuse Stephanie the so called mayor that Phila has is a Freaking IDIOT and a bum and as far as those GREEDY Idiots that drive for SEPTA thats on strike they need to be FIRED!!!!!!!!!

Your Name : Nick
Your Hometown : U-City
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The union has zero public support. We are in the worst recession since the 30s and they are striking over a deal that most Americans would kill for. Once more, unions prove to be greedy mobs. Stay on strike, replace them with others and tell the union to get in the unemployment line like the other 10% of Americans. I am taking my bike to work.

Your Name : David
Your Hometown :
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Mary Kaminski makes a great point. In this day and age, public transportation is a vital service. I agree that transit workers should not be permitted to strike.

Your Name : Linda
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Pretty sneaky, if you ask me, going out in the middle of the night like they did. I need to go to and from Plymouth Meeting everyday, and I only have a city pass. I only bought that yesterday, and I'm not even sure if they'll even accept it on the Regional Rail. I need to get to Center City to take the train, and I do not drive.

Your Name : Douglas
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : The union has been without a contact since March and where was the concern for the union employees? Now that they have gone on strike the fact that everyone including myself that used the system for those months now want to blame the workers! This is just more self hating behavior. I am sure that SEPTA management had no problems getting to work today. I have to now walk 72 blocks round trip to get to where I am going but I do it for myself and my family. Sure it is an issue, even though I probaly could use the workotut, but it should make us all appreciate the work and service that these folks provide. As working folks we all think that we work harder than anyone else but that is not a fact, these transit folks work just as hard and if they think they deserve more then let them work it out for themselves instead of cursing them because we now have to walk instead of riding the transit system. Nobodys opinion means anything to me when I am attempting to get more money and respect from my employer for my family.

Your Name : Crystal
Your Hometown : Soith Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Greed Greed Greed People who should feel lucky to have a job that has ANY benefits these days get to go on strike? For more? Wow! I want to apply to Septa. I can be rude to customers and drive over stuff while talking on my phone so I must qualify, right? I hope local 234 keep away from their jobs long enough so they can be called local poor poor poor.

Your Name : Nick
Your Hometown : Bensalem
Share your commuter story, suggestions : They make to much money now,SCREW THE UNIONS. There are plenty of people out there that would love to have there jobs and health Insurance. I say Fire them all and go NON UNION

Your Name : Terry
Your Hometown : Northeast Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think SEPTA is a greedy, obnoxious Union who has no concept of what it is like to live in the real world with on raises and no increase in medical coverage. I feel really bad for these jerks who can't live on $52,100.00 per year. Cry me a friggin river??? I think these jerks need a dose of their own medicine. I think they should all be fired and forced to collect unemployment while people who are out of work would be happy to make $52,100.00 per year. SCREW SEPTA

Your Name : David
Your Hometown : Fairmount
Share your commuter story, suggestions : It's a shame that those who suffer the most are many of the people who can least afford to suffer. Those who rely on SEPTA to get to work, medical appointments, etc. This is pure greed and shortsightedness by the union. Many people, myself included, did not get a raise this year. And many more were forced to take pay cuts or lost their jobs altogether. I think union members should think about what that means when they say "We are only holding out what we deserve." What they think they deserve doesn't jibe with an objective assessment of what they deserve, especially when public funds are at issue.

Your Name : JT
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I don't believe in breaking unions,but when these workers hold the city hostage every few years because they do not want to have a co-pay for their medical plan I cry foul!They should not be allowed to grid-lock a major American city because they believe that the rules that apply to us should not apply to them!Fire them all!And by the way what if another terrorist attack occurs while the transit workers are on strike? How will first responders get through when the city is jammed with vechiles? Lets hear what song they sing when their sons or daughters can't get to a hospital because the ambulance cannot get through the traffic snarl that they with their greed created!?


Your Name : johnkeel
Your Hometown : philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : they have enough money soon they will raise fares again whoever in charge mind you the election you can be fired if this transpires in bad economic times thats bs

Your Name : Dave
Your Hometown : Philly
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Fire them all. There are plenty of people who would do a better job.

Your Name : Mary Ann
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : How nice of Septa not to strike so someone that pays a thousand dollars a ticket can get to the game and forget the people who need to get to work just to make ends meet.They should be ashamed.

Your Name : Tineesha T.
Your Hometown : Philadelphia, PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa is a disgrace....I say we boycott when they do decide to return to work and dont give them another penny!! Septa workers are being beyond greedy and selfish and have caused a great inconvenience to those of us that rely on Septa to keep OUR JOBS! I've had enough of Septa!

Your Name : L. N. H.
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa, your company is really causing havoc for your loyal commuters. You fell to realize by your company keep striking its causing the commuters to find a more permanent means of transportation. What needs to be done is the managers and ceo's of the company need to be fired because they are making too much money for them not to be working. Septa also stop paying your employees for 8 hours pay when they truly on worked 4 hours. I just dont understand why you have to be this difficult and there are so many individuals who jobs are on the line because yall cant seem to stop being so dam greedy. My question is for as many days that I cannot get to work, can I sue septa for loss wages because I am losing money by not being able to get to work. Septa yall ought to be ashamed of yall selves treating your commuters this way. The city of philadelphia need to kick septa out and develop a new transportation system that will not treat its commuters with such ignorance.

Your Name : John
Your Hometown : Phila
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Everyone else is "biting the bullet", Septic workers are biting everyone but the bullet. Like a spoiled child, they should be spanked.

Your Name : jack hogan
Your Hometown : philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : working without a contract since march. where was SEPTA management then, not at the table.union agrees to pressure from the governor because of a phillies game( of course no involvment prior by the guv or mayor nutter what a leader) how many other union contracts are unsettled 3 or 4 at last count but lets make out the union to be the bad guy. oh by the way septas board entirely suburban

Your Name : Andrea
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : This union is despicable! They have a great contract: no increase to their health care; 11+% raise, etc. They are lucky to have such a fabulous job. People are losing their jobs, losing their homes and these greedy slugs want more, more, more! They went on strike at 3:00 A.M. catching the riding public of this City to scramble to get to jobs with much less benefits than the SEPTA workers are getting. They are greedy, selfish and unfeeling. They could have waited until tonight at midnight at least that would have given people a chance to make alternate plans. They should ALL BE FIRED!!!!

Your Name : Wayne Penglase
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I depend on this SEPTA to get to my appointments at the Veterans Hospital along with other Vets, Do they care at SEPTA, hell no. Do they care at SEPTA that this time of the month the Seiors go to the bank to pay their bills, again, hell no. I think Eddy Rendell should create some form of competition for these money hungry morons at TWU and SEPTA.

Your Name : Erik Sokolowski
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I have already started my boycott. I will never again ride septa for as long as I live. The biggest reason why was a comment I heard about how the union was owed for not striking during the World Series. Owed? Owed what? A pat on the back for doing your job? If the reports are true about how much money septa workers make, then they should be ashamed of themselves. As a long time liberal, I say fire everyone who went on strike and let them see what it is like in the real world.

Your Name : Jennifer
Your Hometown : Juniata
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Septa workers are being a little too greedy. Be happy at what they are willing to give you. Many others have to take pay cuts beacuse of the economy. Be happy you have a job, there are plenty of people who would take your job in a heartbeat.

Your Name : Michael l byrd
Your Hometown : SWest Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Because of the ecomony people are taking cuts just to get things better. I think these Septa workers are being greedy and selfish. thier are poeple that would love to have their jobs.

Your Name : Karen Sassler
Your Hometown : Bensalem, PA
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Since the SEPTA workers want to strike, fire all of them. There are plenty of unemployed people in the Philadelphia area that would LOVE to make what the SEPTA workers make, as well as get the health and pension benefits.

Your Name : Stephanie
Your Hometown : Philadelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Fortunately, I work from home, but feel very sorry for those who depend on Septa. I had to cancel a much-needed post-operative dental appointment today, thanks to Local 234. If the Mayor is so outraged, why doesn't he simply get an injunction and force the greedy union back to work?

Your Name : Mary Kaminski
Your Hometown : Roxborough
Share your commuter story, suggestions : So let me see if I have this straight: the union turned down up to an 11.5 percent wage increase over five years, a $1,250 signing bonus, an 11 percent increase in pension contributions and no health care payment increase. And their problem with this is???? I'm not sure what alternate universe those union leaders just beamed in from, but they should be thankful that they even have a job. Most of us haven't gotten a raise, had our healthcare costs go up & don't even talk about our pensions. If it wasn't going to hurt the little guy so much, I'd say let 'em stay out past Christmas! Transit workers should be prohibited from striking, by law, just like police & fire. Many cities have this law - we need it, too.

Your Name : Kenny
Your Hometown : Morrisville
Share your commuter story, suggestions : Not to happy with this its the only bus that i can depend on to go to work. its already an issue that the bus doesnt run late at night and on Sunday, and for this to happen its an outrage.

Your Name : joe baggs
Your Hometown : north phildelphia
Share your commuter story, suggestions : I think we should continue to walk, bike, hike,carpool, taxi every where we go AFTER the strike is over to vent our frustration. let septa and everyone else know we are tired of be the one to suffer. I say we BOYCOTT to let OUR voices be heard, because they don't care about us BUT THEY DO CARE OUR DOLLAR!!!!!!!!!!

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)