Nov 4, 2009 12:02 am US/Eastern
SEPTA Transport Union Workers On Strike
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
SEPTA's largest transport workers union is on strike after failing to reach a new contract during negotiations with the transit agency.
Transport Workers Union Local 234 announced the strike as of 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Most SEPTA services in Philadelphia were brought to a halt due to the strike, as the union represents more than 5,000 bus drivers, subway and trolley operators and mechanics.
The El, subway and all city buses and trolleys will not run.
Officials said regional rail lines, the Norristown high speed line, the 101 and 102 Media and Sharon Hill trolleys and some Delaware County buses will continue to operate.
Governor Ed Rendell and Mayor Michael Nutter stepped in to facilitate talks between SEPTA and the union, but no deal could be met during nearly 13 hours of negotiations.
"It is incomprehensible to us. We cannot understand what this is really about," Mayor Michael Nutter said.
Mayor Nutter activated the city's Emergency Operations Center at 5:30 a.m. in response to the strike. Because of the transit disruption, the city is laxing parking restrictions in certain areas.
Click here for a map of locations.
Riders who use SEPTA every day to get to work were frustrated to learn they will have to find alternate means of transportation.
"They make more money than I can ever fathom to make and they're going on strike. What about us guys going to work?" said Frankford resident Walter Gordon.
Philadelphia schools were closed for the day due to an in-service day, but students who use SEPTA will have to find alternate means of getting to class Wednesday.
In a statement posted to their Web site, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said all classes and after school programs will run as scheduled during the transit strike. There will be no bus service provided to students who normally ride SEPTA to school. (
Read More …)
Transport workers have been without a contract since March as both sides are still split on wages, benefits and pensions.
Union workers were seeking an annual wage increase of 4 percent and no increase to their health care coverage.
SEPTA officials said they offered the union up to 11.5 percent wage increased over five years and a $1,250 signing bonus. Also on the table, an 11 percent increase in pension contributions and no health care payment increase.
"No other employee in this area can possibly get something like that in this day and age," SEPTA spokesperson Richard Maloney said.
As of right now, no new talks are scheduled between SEPTA officials and union officials.
The last SEPTA transit union strike in October 2005 lasted a week. In 1998, a transit strike lasted for 40 days.
For more, visit
www.septa.org.
DETAILS:
What SEPTA Service Will NOT Run?
-- Market-Frankford Line
-- Broad Street Line / Broad Ridge Spur
-- All City Transit Bus, Trolley and Trackless Trolley Routes (Routes 1-89, all lettered bus routes, Owl Service, and trolley routes 10, 11, 13, 15, 34 and 36)
--Frontier Bus Routes (Routes 90-99, 124, 127-132, 134, 139, 150, 201, 206, 304)
What SEPTA Service WILL Run?
-- Regional Rail Trains
-- Some Suburban Transit (including Norristown High Speed Line and the 101 and 102 Trolley lines)
-- LUCY bus lines through University City
-- Paratransit
For full details of the Service Interruption Guide, please visit
www.septa.org/strike.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Openly Gay Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments