No SEPTA Deal as Rendell Throws in the Towel
By DAN STAMM
Updated 4:00 AM EST, Mon, Nov 9, 2009
Pa. Gov. Ed Rendell has had enough of the squabbling between SEPTA and the Transit Workers Union.
“I’m out,” declared Rendell Saturday night. “I have a state to run.”
Rendell could take $7 million of state assistance back with him to Harrisburg. But, he left a caveat that the funding could still be used if members were given a chance by Monday afternoon to approve the tentative agreement that was reached late Friday.
A “disappointed” Rendell addressed reporters to throw some jabs at the Union.
He was upset that TWU Local 234’s board kept asking for changes to be made to the tentative agreement. SEPTA in turn refused the language changes and the stalemate continued.
The two major remaining stumbling blocks involved workers' health care plans and a private auditor to monitor pensions.
It was believed earlier Saturday that an agreement was pending but that news was dismissed as "premature," according to a Union spokesman.
"As far as [Rendell] saying we had an agreement on a contract -- that is an absolute lie," responded Union chief Willie Brown.
Brown also explained the demand to have a Union auditor. "If you have nothing to hide then why don't you open the books?" Brown said at a press conference of his own Saturday night.
Talks broke down with no signs of starting again leaving little sign that the five-day strike would be coming to an end.
In the meantime nearly one million passengers throughout the Delaware Valley remained without bus or subway service, according to Rendell.
First Published: Nov 7, 2009 7:08 PM EST
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