SEPTA, Union Agreement "Premature"
Progress is being made, union spokesman says
AP
The Philadelphia transit system's largest union went on strike early Tuesday, stalling the city's bus, subway and trolley operations and forcing commuters to scramble to find other ways to get to their destinations.
Reports of a tentative agreement between the Philadelphia transit system's largest union and SEPTA were "premature,'' according to a union spokesman and the negotiations aimed at ending a five-day strike continue.
Progress was being made and a counteroffer was being made to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority through U.S. Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pa., said Transport Workers Union Local 234 spokesman Jamie Horwitz.
If the counter proposal was accepted by SEPTA, then the board was ready vote on it, according to Philly.com. The board would also decide if they would ask transit workers to return to work right away, or if a member ratification vote would be held to approve it as well.
Horwitz, meanwhile, declined comment on Gov. Ed Rendell's announcement Friday night that the two sides had reached agreement on a tentative pact. The tentative deal limited new costs and many expected the deal to be sealed this afternoon, Rendell said.
Horwitz's statements were "brand-new to us," said SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney.
The union walked out early Tuesday in a dispute largely centered on pension benefits, idling city subways, trolleys and buses.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia
Posted Saturday, Nov 7, 2009 - 2:26 PM EST
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