Monday, April 7, 2014

No SEPTA strike but union contracts expired



The Transport Workers Union Local 234 did not go on strike at midnight when their contract with SEPTA ran out. Service was normal on Monday morning.

"We don't foresee a strike necessary. SEPTA is a career for me. It's a career for my people. We are a part of the community. So if we go on strike, we harm our own families. So that is something we don't want to do," said TWU president Willie Brown, according to  NBC10.

SEPTA said late Sunday that it had a two-year deal on the table offering workers a 2 percent raise in the first year and a 2.75 percent raise in the second year. In exchange, it wants the workers to increase their health-care contributions by 1 percent.

"That's it — we were ready to sign a deal limited to those terms. But the union refused," said Jerri Williams, SEPTA director of media relations in a statement.

Later Sunday night, SEPTA released another statement saying that it accepted the union's plea not to strike and that it presented the Union with a final two-year offer that includes 5 percent wage increases.

Both sides are expected back at the bargaining table on Monday.

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