Recognizing and thanking Representative Bob Brady for his involvement in mediating the 2009 SEPTA strike and for helping to broker a deal between SEPTA officials and the Transport Workers Union Local 234.

WHEREAS, On November 3rd at 3 a.m., SEPTA caught the region off guard by going on strike and halting the services of all buses, subways, and trolleys; and

WHEREAS, The strike lasted six days leaving around 450,000 riders, including students, to find other methods of transportation and causing widespread delays, especially for commuters who either drove or crowed onto the congested Regional Rail lines; and

WHEREAS, The Transport Workers Union Local 234, which represents over 5,000 workers, first threatened to strike during the World Series games in Philadelphia, which would have paralyzed the City during one of its most public moments; and

WHEREAS, Representative Brady was both instrumental in preventing the strike from happening during the World Series games and in brokering a deal to end the strike on November 9th ; and

WHEREAS, Local president Willie Brown said the major reasons for the strike were disagreements over increased pension contributions from workers, job “picking” rights, and the length of the contract. He said that the union wanted 3 percent wage increases for each year of a four-year contract; and

WHEREAS, Understanding both the concerns of the union and the limitations of SEPTA, Representative Brady worked tirelessly to keep the lines of communication open and productive. Even when a tentative deal fell apart, he said that despite his disappointment, he would keep working to make it happen; and

WHEREAS, Representative Brady worked tirelessly to negotiate an agreement and prevent a strike; and

WHEREAS, When SEPTA surprised the City by going on strike, Representative Brady never gave up and continued talks until an agreement was reached. His involvement accelerated the conversations and helped bring the two sides together to end the strike; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby recognize and thank Representative Bob Brady for his crucial involvement in mediating the 2009 SEPTA strike and for helping to broker a deal between SEPTA officials and the Transport Workers Union Local 234.

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