Nov 5, 2009 12:27 am US/Eastern
Union: Strike To Continue Due To Pensions
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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Transport Workers Union Local 234 president Willie Brown discusses the ongoing strike during a news conference on November 4.
CBS
The head of striking transport workers said pensions are the underlying issue behind the ongoing strike as he lashed out at Mayor Michael Nutter during a news conference Wednesday.
The union walked out on negotiations and announced they were on strike as of 3 a.m. Tuesday, leaving thousands of SEPTA riders stranded. On day two of the strike, some striking workers blocked the way of buses in the Victory division as they attempted to leave the 69th Street terminal.
During a brief news conference, Transport Workers Union Local 234 president Willie Brown said a disparity between the pensions of union members and SEPTA management is keeping members on the picket lines.
"Our pension is funded at about 52 percent. That level is totally unacceptable to us. It has to do with Septa funding the pension negligently the last 20 years." Brown said. "We will stay out as long as it takes to secure our pension."
While SEPTA offered to increased pension benefits, the union does not want workers to increase pension payments.
"Every year the TWU demands greater and greater pension improvements," SEPTA General Manager Joseph Casey said.
Brown also spoke out against Mayor Nutter, saying he would not meet him face to face.
"Even though I may not respect the man, I respect his position," Brown said. "Little Caesar, as I like to call him, stood up in front of everybody and told the riding public that a strike was off the table. What he did was he hogged the microphone. You never heard me say, or even Governor Ed Rendell say, that a strike was off the table."
"Get back to negotiating, get a deal done and get the system up and running so that a million and a half Philadelphians and I can get back to the business at hand, which is running this city," Mayor Nutter said.
Brown added the union is expected to meet with Governor Rendell sometime this week, but they will not meet with the Mayor. SEPTA management are expected to have a conference call with the Governor Wednesday evening.
"We're not being unreasonable, we're not trying to get rich, all we're asking for is a fair contract," Brown said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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