(The following story by Tina Moore appeared on the Philadelphia Inquirer website on March 7.)
PHILADELPHIA — Bus drivers, mechanics, janitors, and other members of SEPTA’s largest union bellowed a resounding “aye” yesterday when asked whether they would approve a transit strike that could strand city commuters.
“If we’re going to be in this, we’ve got to be in it to win it,” union president Jeff Brooks told several hundred members of Transport Workers Union Local 234 at a closed-door meeting. His voice could be heard outside the meeting at the Sheet Metal Workers union hall on Columbus Avenue.
The approval means that leadership can call a strike if a labor agreement for 5,000 SEPTA employees is not reached by 12:01 a.m. March 15, when the current contract expires.
“It doesn’t mean there will be a strike,” union spokesman Bob Bedard said. “But it’s putting the bullet in the gun.”
“The strike authorization is just a dance,” said Lance Haver, Mayor Street’s consumer advocate. “And anyone who thinks otherwise is just naive.”
The union, which last went on strike in 1998 for 40 days, is opposed to 62 concessions proposed by the financially troubled agency.
The key roadblock has been whether SEPTA would succeed in forcing veteran union workers to contribute weekly for the first time for health care and retiree prescriptions. According to the union, SEPTA has also proposed taking away maternity leave and family medical leave.
SEPTA would not confirm yesterday whether the items were among its proposals.
“The costs of health care at SEPTA and across the United States are rising,” SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said. “Everything’s on the table when we sit down to negotiate a contract – wages, benefits and work rules.”
The tough negotiations come right after a $412 million bailout by Gov. Rendell to stabilize transit agencies in the state until 2007.
The governor has warned the union that a city transit strike on the heels of SEPTA’s financial crisis and the state bailout could anger lawmakers who he hopes will provide permanent funding for SEPTA.
But many union members at the meeting yesterday were resolute.
“We are going to send SEPTA a message that we will strike if we have to,” said Norman Farrell, a 13-year veteran and grandfather from Willow Grove who works as a cashier on the Broad Street line.
“We’ve done 40 days before,” he said. “I’m sure they’re aware of that.”
Charles Grugan, 56, said he supported the union during that strike and would do it again.
“It was tough,” he said. “But we weathered it.”
Less than a mile away on Columbus Avenue, Jamie Harris, 29, had just gotten off the Frankford El.
He said he understands not wanting to pay more for health care or lose maternity leave. He and his wife are expecting a baby in May.
But Harris, who makes $9 an hour doing inventory for Philadelphia-area companies, said the strike would hurt many Philadelphians.
“It’s going to be tough for a lot of people,” he said. “We have to go to work. Every day we’re taking SEPTA.”
Maloney said the two sides would likely be returning to the bargaining table this week.
“We believe there is sufficient time to come to a realistic contract,” he said.