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TWU Local 234 Announces Intent to Continue Contract Negotiations Beyond Strike Deadline

Posted on: Wednesday, 11 March 2009, 14:49 CDT

PHILADELPHIA, March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Union representing 4,700 workers at SEPTA today announced that it expected to continue negotiating for a new contract even if the talks go past the 12:00 midnight strike deadline on Saturday March 14, 2009.

Willie Brown, the President of Transport Workers Union Local 234, noted that there were substantive issues yet to be resolved but that the Union was "very concerned about the needs of the riding public" and that they fully intended to keep negotiating until they reached an agreement with SEPTA.

"We understand that the riding public depends on our Local 234 members getting them to and from work," said Brown. "We are very concerned about the needs of the riding public just as we are very concerned about the need to reach a fair contract settlement for our Union's membership. That is why we are determined to keep negotiating until we reach an agreement and we don't necessarily view midnight on Saturday as a strike deadline."

Brown noted that the union and SEPTA were still far apart on key issues, including subcontracting out of union jobs, maintenance picking rights, dignity on the job, better wages, and pensions that allow Local 234 members to retire with dignity and financial security. In addition, the union is bargaining for better service and security for SEPTA riders.

Brown pointed to the union's concern about SEPTA's use of $200 million in federal stimulus funds to give contracts to outside contractors for work that can be performed in-house by Local 234 members.

"We are bargaining for both our members and the riders of SEPTA, because we are also part of the greater Philadelphia community," said Brown. "That is why we have raised the issue of how the stimulus money is going to be spent, because we believe that SEPTA should be using these funds to create careers for local residents, not just as another way to give out patronage jobs to contractors who will only provide temporary jobs, with low pay and no health benefits."

The union's insistence on the importance of non-economic issues was characterized by Brown as a way for the union to end discrimination in the workplace.

"The picking rights language in our contract is a key issue for us, because it prevents SEPTA managers from showing favoritism and it limits the instances of sexism and racism that used to be the standard operating procedure for job assignments," said Brown. "We are not giving up on issues like this, because it is about dignity in the workplace and it doesn't cost SEPTA anything to treat our members with respect."

Brown said that the union fully intended to win a fair contract with SEPTA in a timely fashion, but that they would not be held to an "artificial deadline."

"The fact of the matter is that we have not yet taken a strike authorization vote because SEPTA hasn't given us anything of substance that we can take to the membership," said Brown. "We won't take a strike vote unless we feel it is necessary. As long as we feel we are making progress in negotiations, the riding public has nothing to worry about from our Union."

SOURCE Transport Workers Union Local 234

Source: PR Newswire

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