Bob Bedard who does press and communications work for TWU Local 234, was kind enough to grant an interview to Young Philly Politics about the contract the union is currently negotiating with SEPTA management. Bob offers a lot of insights into the demands of SEPTA workers and also reveals a posisble hidden agenda on the part of the Daily News in asking workers to take health care
concessions.

Click "read more" below to see the interview.

Bob answered a lot of questions for us including many that were raised by commenters in response to Fabricio Rodriguez of Jobs with Justice who wrote about SEPTA a few weeks back (see that post here). Bob conducted his interview with YPP over email.

Who does TWU represent?

Local 234 represents the vast majority of SEPTA's union employees About 4,700 in the City Transit Division (CTD). 130 at Red Arrow. 150 at Frontier. About 200 at Eden’s.

Why is it important that public transit employees have a union?

Unions are important to employees because they negotiate and enforce contracts with management. Through a written contract, both sides know what is expected of them and what they get in return.

What is the average salary of SEPTA workers? How has that changed in
real terms in the past 20, 10 and 5 years?

Different jobs pay different amounts. The key thing on salaries in these negotiations is that over the years the union has agreed for lower salaries for starting employees.

It used to be SEPTA paid every bus driver about the same amount. Then, in an agreement for SEPTA to pay for health care, the union agreed to have new hires get less. That way, new people knew what the agreement was before they started employment.

Now, a new hire bus driver gets $12.95 and hour. After 5 years, a bus driver gets $21.53 an hour.

As a side note, if you have asked SEPTA the same questions, you should be very leery of their answers.

Since 1979, the union has taken less in benefits and wages to establish and finance the health care Covenant.

And, not just concessions in wages but in all kinds of benefits -- a cap on pensions, disability, insurance. As an example, for the first three days a union SEPTA employee is out sick, they get NO pay. And, less than half pay after that.
In your opinion, does SEPTA's administration manage money well?

Given the rising costs of healthcare, and the SEPTA deficit, what does
the TWU say to those, like the Daily News, who say that there is no choice but to take the healthcare plan offered by management, or at least, make employees pay for it? Are you worried this percentage will increase?

No. SEPTA runs a terrible business. Look at the Market-Franford El fiasco. The $85 million trolley. They can't even sell a $1.30 token for a $1.30 to most people. It's easier to buy a Lottery ticket in Philly than it is for most people to buy a token for $1.30

The Daily News is currently in negotiations with its own people represented by the Newspaper Guild. We feel that the management written editorial was more a message to their employees than to members of 234.

The bottom line is that, through concessions and lower wages, we have already paid for full health care. Maybe not through premiums but through concessions. If you walk into a McDonald's and pay the bill with a $10 bill or a roll of quarters, the bill is still paid.

How does TWU's plan to communicate with the public if you do go on strike?

First, there will be a ton of free media. And, as we have done, we will spend some of our meager resources on paid advertising in print and on TV. If SEPTA forces a work stoppage, we will have 5,000 people to distribute informational stuff at picket lines, in the community. Many people already check our website daily. www.twulocal234.com.

Do you see a transit strike as something Philadelphians should support, and why?

I think fair people will support a strike if SEPTA breaks their deal with union employees. Health care is an issue on everybody's mind. Fair people will support the health care fight just as fair people supported Rosa Parks' fight for her rights in Montgomery. Nobody likes the greedy tyrant.\

What role if any do city leaders play in contract negotiations?

There are elected officials who have been trying to mediate. All of the SEPTA Board is appointed by politicians who should be concerned with their constituent's welfare. Some will stand with us in the fight. Others, especially those who have a history of undervaluing public employees won't.

What role if any do state leaders play in contract negotiations?

Same as above. Politicians have a Bully Pulpit and can get on TV anytime they want. We only have truth on our side.

Outside of this contract, how could both city and state leaders improve SEPTA?
They are in the process of getting the information to assess SEPTA currently. The Governor appointed the Transit Funding and Reform Commission. It is trying to do an honest audit of SEPTA now. When they get that information they will be able to make educated decisions.

They can put any strings they want on the tax money that funds SEPTA. I'm sure that will be discussed after the audit and the fight for dedicated funding starts again.

At a minimum, SEPTA's management employees should be getting a better health care deal than the unionized employees -- it's Classism. Why should the union employee be treated like the people in New Orleans' 9th Ward and management employees get the Bourbon Street preferences?

Some of our readers complain about SEPTA customer service. They also complain about SEPTA service (frequency, route coverage, etc.) What role does TWU play in improving these things?

Local 234 has offered a Partnership With the Riding Public Platform to SEPTA as part of the negotiations. SEPTA has refused to discuss a single issue -- even about buying token. It's on the website.

Does TWU work with other unions that are working at the state and national level to fix the health care crisis?

YES. And, as we entered negotiations, the Jeff Brooks Local 234 administration formed an alliance, a Transit Summit, with all the other SEPTA unions. That's a first.

Our members and leadership have been to City Council, to Harrisburg, in meetings with Federal representatives to support SEPTA's fight for dedicated funding and for health care reform. We want SEPTA to win those fights.

Jeff Brooks, the President has been appointed a VP of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO and TWU International. His personal effort is to try and see everyone's boat rise in the health care fight. To defeat the few who would drag everyone else down.

Would fares be lower if there was no union?

No. My guess is that they would be higher if no one was looking over their shoulder and exerting pressure. SEPTA has become the new Ma Bell. We don't care. We don't have to. We're a monopoly. If it wasn't for the press and the SEPTA unions, the boondoggles would create a bigger deficit.

Do you know of any study or reliable statistics comparing transit worker salaries and benefits across major cities? Is there any data that shows comparative analysis of SEPTA's efficiency with respect to costs and revenues per transit rider?

No. I am trying to do a salary/benefit comparison on our own. But, again, beware of SEPTA's numbers.