Details finally emerge on new SEPTA contract, and it looks like a win for unions

Late on Halloween night, SEPTA riders and business owners took a collective sigh or relief as the transit authority struck a deal with its largest union — avoiding a strike that would have shuttered buses, subways and trolleys.

But little details emerged in the wake of the negotiations. We just knew it was a two-year deal with a 5 percent raise over the life of the contract. (Both the union and SEPTA declined to initially give further details.)

Now, the TWU Local 234 union has released terms of the deal — and it sure looks like a win for the union:

A 2 percent pay increase on Dec. 14, followed by an additional 3 percent one year later.

Union workers will get a one-time pension bonus of $175 for each year of service for those who retire in the next two years.

Union workers get an increase in dental benefits from $2,000 to $2,150 a year for each covered family member.

No givebacks or concessions on health insurance contributions, co-payments, or reductions in medical or prescription coverage.

The union will vote to ratify the contract on Friday. They're almost certain to vote yes, considering that it fulfills three of the main union demands. They get the pension increase they've been clamoring for; they get a two-year deal (rather than a five-year deal SEPTA proposed); and they get a 5 percent pay increase.

TWU Local 234 President Willie Brown said it's only fair that workers get increases, especially since SEPTA seems to be thriving.

"SEPTA's ridership is up, the cost of fuel has dropped, and state aid for capital improvements has risen. Despite a national environment that is hostile to workers and their unions, Local 234 was not willing to agree to any, let me emphasize that – any – concessions," said Brown in a statement.

The new contract was the end of a long process that started back in March and April when two union contracts expired. Discussing a new deal for 2016, Brown promised to be proactive, saying that negotiations will start long before the new contract ends.

"This is an ongoing battle for fairness. The contract we are voting on now is a very good interim agreement that allows our members to make gains and does not inconvenience the public," said Brown. "We're not done yet. We need to address the vast differences between management and worker pensions at SEPTA, and we need to modify the grievance procedure so that our members' contract grievances are addressed in a timely way."

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal