Philadelphia SEPTA transit strike averted as union continues bargaining

Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority workers decided to continue negotiations on a new labor contract Friday afternoon, averting a strike that had been set for midnight Thursday.

"We made significant progress today and there was enough progress made where we decided to not go on strike and continue talking," Transport Workers Union Local 234 President Brian Pollitt said in a Thursday statement, "...I'm going to do whatever I can and all the power that I have to try to avoid a strike. I'm going to sit down, roll my sleeves up, get with SEPTA and try to make a deal."

The union workers want raises along with safety and security improvements.

"SEPTA is committed to engaging in good-faith negotiations at the bargaining table, with the goal of reaching an agreement that is fair to our hard-working employees and to the customers and taxpayers who fund SEPTA," SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch said.

SEPTA transit will operate normally Friday. The union represents 5,000 transit workers.

Pollitt argued that SEPTA has a $600 million rainy day fund and some of that can be used to give workers raises. He said the union isn't going after the entire $600 million, but said SEPTA can afford to make improvements for transit workers.

SEPTA disputes that and said the fund is a "service stabilization fund" and estimated it is $300 million but SEPTA is facing a financial crisis that could drain the fund.

TWU Local 234 workers authorized a strike in a vote last week if no agreement can be reached at the bargaining table.

"The International Transport Workers Union is throwing its full weight behind Local 234 in its fight against SEPTA.The urgent safety and economic concerns of our transit workers in Philadelphia can't be ignored any longer. We will provide whatever resources are needed to achieve victory," TWU International union President John Samuelson said in a statement.

"If SEPTA forces a strike, transport workers from across the country will enthusiastically join Local 234 on the picket lines: airline mechanics, flight attendants, track workers, subway conductors, train operators, and more. Local 234's fight is our fight too."