You knew this was coming. HATERS and followers of this blog knew it was only a matter of time. IT has hit the fan, here in Philadelphia, and it is time to get our HATE on.
In case you are not in the know, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) Transport Workers Union Local 234 has gone on strike, effectively shutting down all inner-city buses, subways, trolleys and most trains. More than 5,000 people walked off the job this past Tuesday at 3:00 am, after union reps and SEPTA couldn't come to an agreed upon contract.
Now, before I begin my bashing, I want to be sure that everyone is educated on the situation at hand and understands why the SEPTA union is striking. TWU Local 234 wants SEPTA to contribute more to workers' pensions and a four-percent wage increase each year, for the next five years. They would also like seniority rights in choosing their own equipment to use as well as fixing ongoing racial and gender discrimination, as it relates to pay and picking rights.
SEPTA, through negotiations with, at first, Governor Edward G. Rendell and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, later including Mayor Michael Nutter, offered 11 percent wage increase over five years, 11 percent increase in pension contributions and workers would not be required to pay any more for health coverage.
The union has been without a contract since March 2009
Now that we know the basic logistics, let the HATIN’ begin.
I’m first HATIN’ on the union. Have we not yet learned that pensions are not all they’re cracked up to be? The idea of pensions was derived during a similarly depressed economic time, when the unemployment rate was sky high. The powers that be decided that they would push the older population into retirement, thus opening up the job market and reducing the unemployment rate. It was never meant to be a permanent fix, but more to give the older population an out before they died. Pensions were actually planned to kick in around the time of the peak of life expectancy. The basic concept was: Stop work now so we can give your job to someone younger, retire and just when you hit the age of eligibility for pension, you die.
To the credit of its initial founders, the idea of pensions worked for a while, but, now, the old are getting older and life expectancy is at an all time high. The problem that exists is that most pensions cost more than general operating payroll, and what the union is asking for is an increase on both the front end and the back end. Apparently they don’t understand what a recession is. Philadelphia and SEPTA just don’t have the money… no city or company does, for that matter.
My beef continues with the unions because they have yet to say why they deserve the raises or give a commitment to bettering the service. Will a four percent wage increase make my buses and trains arrive and depart on time? Will it extend the hours of operation for trains and buses? Will it allow me to feel safer on the public transit system at night? Will it stop said workers from hitting bikers and other cars… I doubt it. Again, I fail to see why they deserve the amount of money they are requesting. Did I fail to mention that the average yearly income of a union worker is roughly $52,000 per year and the hourly wage worker makes $24.24 an hour, only $1.79 less than NYC, whose public transit runs 24-hours-a-day. WTF? They are making more than I am... hell, more than a majority of people living in Philadelphia. And for what? What are they held accountable for and is it worth what they’re being paid? I'd like to see their employee annual review process.
On the other hand, SEPTA, the organization, and the City of Philadelphia should be ashamed of themselves. Who lets a contract lapse for this long on a service that is instrumental to the lives of so many Philadelphians? Mayor Nutter and the SEPTA GM should have sat with the union, prior to their contract ending, and hashed out an appropriate deal to last four to five years. They gave the union a BS contract that lasted for one year, thinking that that would hold them. Administration, get your mind right; After receiving a BS contract, as soon as it ends, wouldn’t you come back asking for more? I think its clear how far ‘actual thinking’ goes within this administration.
In case you are not in the know, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) Transport Workers Union Local 234 has gone on strike, effectively shutting down all inner-city buses, subways, trolleys and most trains. More than 5,000 people walked off the job this past Tuesday at 3:00 am, after union reps and SEPTA couldn't come to an agreed upon contract.
Now, before I begin my bashing, I want to be sure that everyone is educated on the situation at hand and understands why the SEPTA union is striking. TWU Local 234 wants SEPTA to contribute more to workers' pensions and a four-percent wage increase each year, for the next five years. They would also like seniority rights in choosing their own equipment to use as well as fixing ongoing racial and gender discrimination, as it relates to pay and picking rights.
SEPTA, through negotiations with, at first, Governor Edward G. Rendell and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, later including Mayor Michael Nutter, offered 11 percent wage increase over five years, 11 percent increase in pension contributions and workers would not be required to pay any more for health coverage.
The union has been without a contract since March 2009
Now that we know the basic logistics, let the HATIN’ begin.
I’m first HATIN’ on the union. Have we not yet learned that pensions are not all they’re cracked up to be? The idea of pensions was derived during a similarly depressed economic time, when the unemployment rate was sky high. The powers that be decided that they would push the older population into retirement, thus opening up the job market and reducing the unemployment rate. It was never meant to be a permanent fix, but more to give the older population an out before they died. Pensions were actually planned to kick in around the time of the peak of life expectancy. The basic concept was: Stop work now so we can give your job to someone younger, retire and just when you hit the age of eligibility for pension, you die.
To the credit of its initial founders, the idea of pensions worked for a while, but, now, the old are getting older and life expectancy is at an all time high. The problem that exists is that most pensions cost more than general operating payroll, and what the union is asking for is an increase on both the front end and the back end. Apparently they don’t understand what a recession is. Philadelphia and SEPTA just don’t have the money… no city or company does, for that matter.
My beef continues with the unions because they have yet to say why they deserve the raises or give a commitment to bettering the service. Will a four percent wage increase make my buses and trains arrive and depart on time? Will it extend the hours of operation for trains and buses? Will it allow me to feel safer on the public transit system at night? Will it stop said workers from hitting bikers and other cars… I doubt it. Again, I fail to see why they deserve the amount of money they are requesting. Did I fail to mention that the average yearly income of a union worker is roughly $52,000 per year and the hourly wage worker makes $24.24 an hour, only $1.79 less than NYC, whose public transit runs 24-hours-a-day. WTF? They are making more than I am... hell, more than a majority of people living in Philadelphia. And for what? What are they held accountable for and is it worth what they’re being paid? I'd like to see their employee annual review process.
On the other hand, SEPTA, the organization, and the City of Philadelphia should be ashamed of themselves. Who lets a contract lapse for this long on a service that is instrumental to the lives of so many Philadelphians? Mayor Nutter and the SEPTA GM should have sat with the union, prior to their contract ending, and hashed out an appropriate deal to last four to five years. They gave the union a BS contract that lasted for one year, thinking that that would hold them. Administration, get your mind right; After receiving a BS contract, as soon as it ends, wouldn’t you come back asking for more? I think its clear how far ‘actual thinking’ goes within this administration.
In addition, I don't believe that the union is truly being heard. Aside from the monetary increases, they requested that racial and gender issues be resolved as well as picking rights of equipment, favored to those with seniority. SEPTA and the City respond by saying workers won't have to pay more for health care. Ummm, did I miss something here? Someone please explain to me how that takes care of the unions civil rights and seniority issues?
I'm HATIN'
The people who are really hurt in all of this are the people of Philadelphia who rely on SEPTA to move them throughout the City. Because when they ultimately come to a decision and appease the union, the money has to come from somewhere… yup, they’re looking right at you and your wallet SEPTA riders. We're probably going to endure yet another increase and will have to pony up more money to ride the same lackluster buses and trains.
I must applaud Philadelphia riders because amidst new traffic jams, I have really seen this City adapt and rise above losing most of its public transportation (I guess we're used to it. I don't even want to delve into how many time SEPTA unions have gone on stike). SEPTA and City officials should be very afraid. Upon reaching their agreement, if SEPTA asks riders to burden some of the costs, even after a steep hike in pricing two years ago, we the people should STRIKE. We’re getting along now, some easier than others, I admit, without SEPTA. A strike by the people will set the tone and let SEPTA and the City administration know that we will not be pushed around and should not have to burden a money-hungry union and a socially irresponsible City government, who don’t know how to come together for the greater good of Philadelphia.
HATERS Stand Up and tell SEPTA and the City of Philadelphia that they can permanently tattoo their lips to your HATIN,' no SEPTA riding, walking, biking and carpooling a$$.
