SEPTA Transit Workers Will Not Go On Strike Monday
By Dan Wing, Matt Rivers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- TWU Local 234 officials have confirmed that SEPTA workers will not go on strike on Monday.
Their contract expired at midnight Sunday and talks between SEPTA and Transit Workers Union Local 234 wrapped up around 9:30 p.m. Sunday with no new deal in place. However, all transit lines operated as normal Monday.
After more than nine hours of talks, TWU Local 234 leader Willie Brown joined a group of local lawmakers in announcing that talks between the sides were put on hold and will resume Monday.
Brown said a strike will not benefit the people of Philadelphia, and the around 5,000 workers in the union will report to work on Monday.
"We're a part of the community," said Brown. "So if we go on strike, we hurt our own families. So that's something we don't want to do."
Brown wouldn't get into specifics, but said the union did present a counter offer to SEPTA in response to a two year deal offered on Friday. Under that deal, workers would have seen raises of 2% and 2.75%, but would also see an increase of 1% in contributions to health benefits.
Brown says the union is looking for a fair deal.
SEPTA Director of Media Relations Jerri Williams said in a statement that SEPTA accepts the union's pledge not to strike, and there will be no interruption in transportation services on Monday.
Williams says SEPTA presented the Transit Workers Union with a final offer for a 2 year contract Sunday night, with wage increases totaling 5%.
The Transit Authority stated it remains committed to good faith negotiations with the union. Though the two parties are now negotiating a 2 year contract, SEPTA leadership hopes to agree on a longer-term contract with the union.
More on SEPTA/TWU Local 234 talks.
Stay with CBSPhilly.com for updates on the negotiations.
