"It is unfortunate that SEPTA has forced this strike. Neither our members nor the riding public desired this outcome," stated TWU Local 234 President Jeff Brooks.
UPDATE 11/3/05: SEPTA is still on strike and things aren't getting any easier for all of us stranded without cars. To find out how you can help end the strike quickly and fairly, Click "read more" below.
Well, it’s official, SEPTA workers have been on strike since Midnight last Monday. As someone who does not own a car, I am interested in seeing this strike end as quickly as possible. However, as someone who also pays out of pocket for my own health insurance, I am only interested in seeing this strike end if SEPTA workers win their demands for a fair deal on healthcare.
I see their fight as a fight for all of us who need access to quality, affordable healthcare.
So, if you are in the same position as me, what can you do to help make this strike end as quickly as possible?
First and foremost, read up on the issues so you can be a source of knowledge for family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Click here to read an interview with the SEPTA worker’s union or here to see what our friend Fabricio at Jobs with Justice has to say about the reasons for this strike.
Then, click here to take action. You can send an email to Faye Moore, SEPTA’s General Manager, telling her that the riding public supports the union’s demands on healthcare.
Next, call Big Ed himself. Pennsylvania’s healthcare crisis is bigger than SEPTA itself. Tell Governor Rendell to step in and use state funds to fix the short-term contract problems while making a real commitment to doing something about the skyrocketing cost of healthcare that so many of us Pennsylvanians are facing. You can email the Governor here or just give him a call at (717) 787-2500.
Lastly, talk to friends about rides, dust off bikes and do whatever you can to get around town while TWU members do what they have to do for what’s right. The last SEPTA strike I can remember was in high school and it was rough. But, this is a frontline battle not just for the transit workers, but for all of us. So, let's buck up, make the best of us and put the screws to SEPTA managment every day until this thing gets resolved.
UPDATE #2: Rendell Weighs In: Find out why Ed is on the wrong side.
UPDATE #3: SEPTA Strike and Solidarity: Ben writes about how unions can help end the strike.
I think we should organize a
I think we should organize a Young Philly Politics bike gang.
A YPP Critical Mass?
I don't know how many people in this area are familiar with the Critical Mass concept (political bike rallies), or if this issue would generate much participation, but it is an interesting idea for publicizing support of the union. Try googling "Critical Mass."
there was a critical mass this friday
http://www.phillyimc.org/en/2005/10/16985.shtml. they ride the last friday of every month starting at city hall. i've sent these comments to ben, one of the organizers
http://www.philamass.org/
Call these numbers too
In addition the numbers posted in the article above, you can also call these SEPTA numbers. All the workers are on strike, almost all of the customer service centers are shut down in various places across the city, so I can only assume management is answering these lines. When I called a little while ago and expressed my support for the union and asked to speak to someone I could voice that too, the woman responded "We are the only ones working," and hung up. Sounds like management or managment stooges.
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Customer Service agents are available via telephone 24 hours a day now through Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 12 midnight. After Nov. 1, Customer Service will operate extended telephone hours throughout a service interruption - weekdays 6 a.m.-12 midnight and weekends 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Customer Service: 215-580-7800
Para información en Español llame al 215-580-7800, luego marque el número 2
Customer Service (TDD): 215-580-7853
CCT Connect:
Customer Service: 215-580-7145
Trip Reservations: 215-580-7700
Same Day Cancellations/Trip Problems: 215-580-7720
TDD: 215-580-7712
Parking Information: 215-580-3400 or cservice@septa.org
For an email form:
http://www.septa.org/inside/customer_service/cs_survey/service_info.html
SEPTA Solidarity Rally
You heard it hear first!
Jobs with Justice is calling for a solidarity rally for SEPTA workers, Wednesday, Novemeber 2 from 7:30 am- 9 am. The march will start at the 11th and Market (SEPTA East Station) to 12th and Market (SEPTA headquarters).
This morning rally, will be repreated ever Wednesday until the strike ends.
Act Now to End a SEPTA STRIKE
Take Action at
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/SEPTA_Strike
The Bus Driver Strikes Back!
After months of negotiations, management and workers discussions have lead to a strike. The workers knew that there was but one final way to move up the path toward justice...on foot, marching on the picket line.
SOLIDARITY with SEPTA Workers Rally
Every Wednesday Morning, 7:30 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.
SEPTA Headquarters, 1234 Market St.
We walk while SEPTA Management raids the fare box. We have heard SEPTA Managment demand sacrifices from the workers. However, when SEPTA Management is asked for sacrifices in return, they flatly reject the idea. The Transportation Workers Union Local 234 has forwarded a proposal by City Controller Jonathan Saidel which makes health care co-pays apply to everyone at SEPTA based on salary. In other words, if SEPTA's insolvancy is caused by rising health care costs, as is often stated by management, then everyone who gets health care from SEPTA employment (not only blue collar workers earning $25,000/year, but also SEPTA managers earning $195,000/year) should have to pay something. SEPTA Management has declined to even consider this option. Every one has pitched in- riders pay extremely high fares, workers have given up thousands of dollars worth of pay increases and benefits, but General Manager, Faye Moore, doesn't want to pay.
Join us for "Walk to Work with Faye Day" and find out why "Faye Doesn't Want to Pay."
End the strike
I have read that the final cash stumbling block relates to health care coverage. Septa wants the ee's to pay between $5 and $12 per week depending on coverage (single vs. family).
I have also read that 450,000 people are stranded as a result of the strike. (I got this # from NBC 10.com website.)
If the 450,000 were to pay 10 cents more each way each day that would bring in $450,000 per week. If the average ee cost is about $9 that would fund health insurance for 50,000 workers. There is nowhere near that many Local 234 workers (although if someone knows the actual number it would be helpful). I hate paying extra, but 20 cents per day (or less) seems like a small price to pay to be mobile again....
My numbers are real rough...any input to make them more accurate would be appreciated.
Solidarity for Healthcare
to me it seems the strike is a tactic to retain healthcare without sacrificing income. i support this position and also applaud the union for requesting that the management pay an equal percentage towards their healthcare highlighting the complacency that healthcare is a privileged. healthcare should be a right guaranteed by the constitution and this society should in the interim have single payer universal healthcare.
the struggle to achieve single payer universal healthcare has to stand in solidarity with the workers in this strike. the delaware valley community must support the workers and as previously stated call for "our Philadelphia-based legislative leaders to demonstrate some leadership on our behalf and get cash."
public transit is an environmental issue as well part of this society's infrastruture. if the city would repeal these business tax reductions and new condominium tax breaks it could invest more cash into S.E.P.T.A. i rather have higher taxes to cover S.E.P.T.A.'s payroll than an increase in fare. this way everyone would contributing more to our citiy's public transit system.
does anyone know the healthcare package of the workers who operate the regional rail system?
There already is a Philly cri
There already is a Philly critical mass group-- they should be approached...
bike gang yeaaah.
I agree. if you are serious, email me @kasher@temple.edu and i'll give you my number so we can do this. maybe to accompany the JWJ rally on wednesdays? and maybe in cahouts with the critical mass crew (i love you!) ...let's do this.
Economic Realities and Justice in the Transit Strike
I was one of the organizers of the Pennsylvania Transit Coaltion which lobbied for transit funding this year and plans to continue working for transit funding and improvemetns in the future.
It is not in SEPTA’s interest or in the TWU’s interest for someone who has been and will continue to be lobbying alongside both SEPTA and the TWU to come down on one side or another in this dispute.
But I think I can comment on the two economic realities at work in this dispute.
As a supporter of the labor movement it seems to me, first, that in fighting for health care, the TWU is fighting for all workers. And the TWU has a strong case in saying that it has sacrificed wages for health care.
And as a proponent of the need for more transit funding, I can understand, second, why SEPTA is in a budget crunch that makes health care such a tempting target. (And I do want to point out that Fabricio is wrong about one thing: SEPTA has cut management substantially in the past ten years.)
The question is whether a settlement can be found between these two economic realities. I think it can. And, for the sake of public transit in this region, I hope Jeff Brooks and Faye Moore find it soon.
But I don’t know if any settlement will be entirely just.
I don’t think we will have entirely just agreements between labor and management in this country until health care is no longer an issue between them, because health care is not a benfit of working in one place or another but is, instead, funded by our taxes.
I don’t think our transit workers will be paid what they deserve until we have new, dedicated funding for public transit. And we won’t have all the transit workers we should have until we make the dramatic new investments we need to create a modern, comprehensive transit system in our region.
Fare Increases aren't the Answer
The strike really sucks, no doubt, so I feel you on the need to help figure out solutions to end it. But as Marc Stier points out above, the answer will come from dedicated funding for transit in Harrisburg not fare increases.
We, as SEPTA riders, already pay higher fares than almost anyone else in the nation and our state does not pay as much as others pay for their transit.
So the solution is for Governor Ed Rendell to call a special session ASAP on transit and then for our Philadelphia-based legislative leaders to demonstrate some leadership on our behalf and get cash.
Not only does SEPTA need the money to pay healthcare costs, but it also needs to expand current service and to build some new rapid tranist lines (like a new light rail line down the Roosevelt Blvd or a subway from Gray's Ferry to Fishtown or from Fairmount/Brewerytown to Bella Vista- diagnol lines what a concept!).
Meanwhile, let's not lose sight of the fact that the SEPTA board is majority suburban Republicans who don't give a damn about what Philadelphians need.
And before I forget, does everyone know that Blue Cross has millions of dollars in surplus? Why Diane Koken, the Insurance Commissioner and the Governor don't force them to disburse that money and lower health insurance rates for everyone is beyond me.
(whew, what a rant! my bike broke this morning which has me angrier about the causes of the strike than before).
Faye Moore Reads YPP!
Just a follow up. I posted the action alert here and only here twelve hours before the action. By the time our dozen activists should up to 1234 Market St. at 7 a.m. Nov 2, Ms. Moore was being driven to work by SEPTA police in stead of her usual R6, R5 train ride from City Line Ave. I guess I shouldn't post super sneaky info to this blog. Apparently, Faye reads YYP to monitor JwJ actions! The undercover cop dressed as a SEPTA mechanic was a nice touch too.
You seem to know a lot about
To Mr. Mark Stier:
You seem to know a lot about the situation...I roughly estimated that a very, very modest fare increase would more than cover the remaining 5% of health care costs that are still being disputed. Am I correct?
I agree but.....
A few people have noted that we pay some of the highest fares in the nation....so a fare hike is unfair. In addition, others note that a much better long term solution is dedicated funding from Harrisburg....
All of this is true, and I don't think it would be fair to ask me and the other Septa riders to pay an extra ten cents per day. However, I have to stop and wonder. Do I want to be right or do I want to be happy? For a dime a day, I'd rather be happy......I think I could live with the dime a day injustice much easier than I am coping with no public transportation.
I say, raise the fare, get the buses and subs running, and then work on fixing the system correctly. Changing the way the state funds transportation will take months and months.....I don't want the strike to last that long......
Right About Expanding SEPTA
Ray is right about the need to expand and improve SEPTA. The Roosevelt Boulevard line is one example. I am told that a tunnel up to take the Broad Street Line up to the old Sears buidling already exists.
We also have to think about transforming our commuter rail into light rail. Light rail cars are more like subway cars. They have big doors and there is no step up from the platform. As a result, you can get people on and off much faster and you don't need a conductor on every car. In addition, light rail cars accelerate and decelerate much faster.
The upshot is that we could run much more frequent service on the commuter lines if they were light rail. And if, for example, the R8 to Mt. Airy ran every fifteen minutes, ridership would dramatically increase. No one would ever have to look at a schedule. We could also run express lines out to the burbs. And we could reopen closed stations or create new train stations in the city.
(Imagine a new R8 station at the old Budd Company building at Wissahickon and Hunting Park. We could turn that building into a major shopping / entertainment center without all the horrible stuff that comes with gambling. Of course, to make this really work right, we would need electronic ticketing so people on the way home to Germantown, Mt. Airy, and Chestnut Hill could get on and off the train at this center for a minimal additional fare.)
None of this stuff is very expensive. We could convert commuter rail to light rail for 400 to 500 million. And operating costs would per passenger would go down dramatically because we would need fewer conductors on each train (although we would have more employees in the system as a whole). An electronic ticketing system might cost 80 million.
SEPTA is not going to take the lead on these ideas. We need our politicians to do so. And, if they won’t, then the citizens of this region are going to have to rise up and demand some creative thinking about transit—which mostly means borrowing all the good transit ideas that are being used already around the world. I have just scratched the surface in describing them!
A new vision of SEPTA, some recognition of what transit can mean for equitable economic development (more about this another time) and we can build a movement not just for dedicated funding but the capital funds we need to build something that would make a dramtic contribution to improving our region.
No Fare Hikes
SEPTA's fares are the highest in the nation. We need more funding, not more fare hikes.
Bravo Marc Stier!
In general your posts have been great but this one is a gem! Concrete ideas and vision, the future is ours!