 Transit workers: ‘We’ve got to take a stand’ Photo: Nancy Mitchell |
Philadelphia bus drivers, subway and trolley operators, and mechanics—around 5,100 workers who run the fifth largest public transit system in the United States—are in an all-out battle for a fair contract. The workers are employees of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and as of 3 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, they are on strike. With an annual ridership of 325 million, the SEPTA strike is a clear demonstration of who keeps the city running—the workers.
The SEPTA workers, represented by Transit Workers Union Local 234, have been struggling for a contract since early April. Negotiations intensified last week as the World Series approached, and both sides understood the enormous bargaining chip in the hands of the union. A strike during the World Series games being held in Philadelphia would not only affect the ability of thousands of fans to attend the game but would also bring national attention to the workers’ struggle for a fair contract. The workers voted unanimously to authorize a strike should negotiations fail before the first game.
By the morning of the first World Series game, on Oct. 31, both Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell had joined the negotiations, putting intense pressure on the union to stay at the bargaining table. But by the end of the weekend, when the potential for the national embarrassment had disappeared, management had become much more uncooperative. The union finally announced the strike on Tuesday morning.
The union is fighting for minimal wage increases to keep up with the cost of living and against increases in worker contributions to health care. A major sticking point is the struggle to get SEPTA to increase contributions to the workers’ under-funded pensions. The union is also struggling for “picking rights”—the rights of workers to choose the equipment they drive—which are important in fighting gender discrimination on the job.
As soon as the strike was announced, the demonization campaign against the workers began, assisted by the mayor, governor and big business media. The union has been called “greedy” and “irresponsible,” and the strike characterized as an “ambush.” No effort has been spared to try to pit working Philadelphians against the transit workers.
SEPTA management and their big business allies are also using the economic recession as a bargaining chip, promoting the idea that in these times everyone has to sacrifice, and workers should be happy they have jobs at all. The reality is that SEPTA is in a better financial situation than it has been in years, with increases in both state and federal funding. Management has not offered to take pay cuts or pay more for their health care and pension benefits. The recession is an excuse to force cutbacks on the workers, and the workers are calling their bluff.
A largely African American work force, SEPTA bus, subway and trolley operators earn from $14.54 to $24.24 an hour, reaching the top rate after four years. Mechanics earn $14.40 to $27.59 an hour.
On the picket line, Joe Gray, a City Transit Division Operator, told PSL: “We’ve got to take a stand. … We fought for that federal funding a year ago—money we never saw. Meanwhile, the executives downtown who don’t operate a vehicle are getting paid. We just want a fair contract. Expenses are going up—we need an increase in pay. We’re trying to survive. We’re not trying to hurt the public. The riding public is on our side, the ones that understand the issues.”
The new Philadelphia branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation is organizing to support the transit workers by joining the picket lines and passing out leaflets to the public to counter the negative propaganda. To join us, call 267-275-8008 or email [email protected].
