November 5
Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
posted by
Brian Howard
Reader
James DiMartino of the Southwark/Passyunk Square area wrote this morning with this interesting alternative to a full-on transit strike:
The SEPTA strike is a great inconvenience to the general population. I am sure that the Septa board Members and the Union Leadership are not similarly inconvenienced by the lack of public transportation. Just look at the army of SUVs around the Bellevue during the talks.
I would like to suggest another approach to the union action. Instead of walking off the job, why not continue to operate the system as usual only REFUSE TO COLLECT FARES.
This would have a two-fold impact; 1. Put a halt to the revenue stream while 2. Retaining the popular support of the people whose livelihoods depend on reliable public transportation.
Each time SEPTA has gone on strike, they have actually lost ridership.
Why not take an action that helps the people as well as yourselves, guys? Would that not be enlightened self interest?
Please Adivise.
Thoughts?
Posted in Letters, News, People send us this stuff | 13 Comments »
Earlier today, “It’s Our Money” reported that Willie Brown, president of the Transport Workers Union Local 234 – the guys on strike – had told reporters that Mayor Nutter was “cut off” from future negotiations:
Nutter “has brought nothing†to the table, Brown said, adding, “I will not meet him†because of the attacks the mayor has leveled at the union.
About half an hour ago, Office of the Mayor Press Secretary Doug Oliver emailed me the following statement, reprinted here in its entirety:
The Mayor was only involved because he was asked to participate in the discussions. Â To the extent that his participation is helpful, he’s willing to participate. Â If his participation is problematic, he’s willing to stay out of the discussions. Â It’s always been the Mayor’s position that his number one obligation is to the 1.5 million people who are trying to manage their way through this TWU strike.
There should be no reason why the negotiations can’t move forward. Â But with a deal like the one that was offered (11% wage increases over five years and no increase in contributions to healthcare) during a time when so many people are taking pay decreases and even losing their jobs, one can’t help but wonder why a deal wasn’t struck already. Â Again, if the absence of the Mayor is the only thing needed to strike a deal, the Mayor is more than happy to allow the negotiations to continue without his involvement.
It’s Our Money – now edited by former CP news editor Doron Taussig – has been blogging the strike like crazy.
A few hilights:
* Ben Waxman proposes that the transportation workers’ give up their right to stirke in exchange for “binding arbitration,” – in other words, if an agreement can’t be reached, a decision is simply made by an arbitrator or a panel of arbitrators.
* Anthony Campisi compares the last SEPTA strike to this one.
* Doron Taussig picks a few of the best how-I-got-to-work stories submitted to the blog.
And much more – so check ‘em out.
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