WHEREAS, For many years, approximately 5,000 transit operators and mechanics have worked under contractual terms mutually agreed to by SEPTA and their union, Transportation Workers Union Local 234; and
WHEREAS, The members of Transportation Workers Union Local 234, to their credit, are working without a contract since March 14th , 2005; and
WHEREAS, SEPTA and TWU Local 234's inability to come to a mutually agreed upon contract is likely to lead to a strike that will be debilitating to the region; and
WHEREAS, SEPTA is proposing that union employees pay 20 percent of their health care premium even though, for decades and in previous labor contracts, the union has accepted less in wages and benefits in return for better health care; and
WHEREAS, Those lower wages and less generous benefits have made SEPTA's union employees rank 20th in the country in wages in comparison to union employees of other transit authorities; and
WHEREAS, It is important for SEPTA, a quasi-governmental agency which represents all the people of the region, to negotiate in good faith and set an example of good faith collective bargaining; and
WHEREAS, Although City Council has no desire to dictate or influence any specific terms of a new contract between SEPTA and TWU Local 234, it does have the duty to speak out when basic labor rights are being threatened; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we call on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to actively negotiate a mutually agreeable new contract between SEPTA and Transportation Workers Union Local 234.
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