With talks continuing into the early hours of Friday morning, Gov. Ed Rendell says he is not optimistic as the fourth day of the SEPTA strike begins.
Rendell and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady met with leaders of the transit workers union Thursday night, but it was not a bargaining session, says Rendell. He said the meetings were an attempt to find common ground between the union and SEPTA so the strike could finally end.
"I wouldn’t describe this as optimistic but we have some ideas that just might work," said Rendell.
Rendell says the union is "being unrealistic" after holding the first of two meetings with Transit Workers Union, Local 234 reps Thursday.
"We reiterated our point that we thought the contact was a good one," Rendell said. "We talked about restructuring the contract but not putting more money in because I don’t think SEPTA has more money to put in."
Rendell left the Bellevue and immediately headed over to Carpenters' Hall at 18th and Spring Garden for a second meeting with union officials and their attorneys.
The TWU postponed a previously scheduled announcement because of the extended talks with the governor.
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Sources say the union's main sticking point continues to surround SEPTA's contributions to the employee pension plan. Reps believe the transit authority should contribute more to the worker's pension, which is currently funded at 52 percent.
This is now day four of a strike that has left all city buses, trolleys and subways idled. The 900,000 residents affected by the strike are surely holding out hope for a quick end as the temperatures grow colder.
Gov. Rendell has been in talks with both sides since the union walked out of negotiations just after midnight Tuesday. Since the strike began, both sides have not met to discuss a resolution.
Stay with NBCPhiladelphia.com and NBC10 News for complete details as they happen.
