Posted on 10/25/2009 6:34:35 PM PDT by george76
Transit system workers in Philadelphia voted to authorize a union strike Sunday, less than a week before the Phillies play their first home game of the World Series, but a transit spokesman said he hopes a deal can be concluded before then.
Willie Brown, president of the Transport Workers Union Local 234, said the 4,700 workers voted overwhelmingly to allow him to call a strike if negotiations with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority fail. Talks are slated to resume Monday.
Brown said he hoped a walkout would not affect the series, but he said workers have been without a contract since March and have not had a raise since December.
The third and fourth games of the World Series are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia, and a fifth game, if necessary, would also be in the city Monday. In addition, the Philadelphia Eagles are scheduled to play the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon.
(Excerpt) Read more at islandpacket.com ...
Union money must be on the out of towners.
GOSH! No raise in 10 months!!?!? Oh, the humanity!!!!!
Too bad they can't all be fired.
“have not had a raise since December” Are you kidding me... The unions obviously do not get it!
Union thuggery in Philly, who would ever believe that? LOL!
Workers of the world go on strike!
Workers of the world go on strike!
Another labor action ( as they call it ) or labor not in action ?
Still one of the best Union commercials ever. The guy sounds like he’s from Philly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3mw49mk_x0
I hope it lasts months.
during a bad recession no less.
entitlement mentality you think?
Without the buses, getting around town is a snap. I hope they never come back.
I live in the Philly ‘burbs—SEPTA, or “Septic” as I like to call it, (which thankfully, I only use rarely-when I go into the Center Cesspool of Philly and don’t want to take my car) is the WORST—transit systems in NYC, Boston, DC, all are much better than SEPTA.
>>Too bad they can’t all be fired. <<
Or drafted.
Some people don’t have jobs and the medical field is looking at losing many jobs.
If they go on strike, out of towners will miss out on the SEPTA experience of rude operators, poor service and urine scented conveyances.
What difference does it make?
Few world series attendees take the bus to the game. Tickets to the game have to be at least $200, if they can afford to go, they can afford a limo or cab to get there.
Not to mention the pros leaving town to "get paid" in the burbs.
It’s a conspiracy...
The union is trying to stave off the possibility of President ObaMao throwing another dirt ball.
The Simpsons explained unions very well:
"You can't treat the working man this way! Someday, we'll form a union and get the fair and equitable treatment we deserve! Then we'll go too far, and get corrupt and shiftless, and the Japanese will eat us alive!"
The coal miners -- whose ranks were already depleted by the draft for service in WW II -- did NOT hold firm for the most part to this idiotic and frankly treasonous diktat from Lewis. Most of them worked right straight through (with, sadly, a few of them killed by union goons, as directed by Lewis), and America, for the most part, had the coal it needed to fight through until the Japanese surrender.
There are ANY number of good books on this subject and the various sub-topics. Lewis, as the historical record shows quite clearly, was either an outright Communist or so far into bed with the 'American' Communist Party that the distinction is a distinction without a difference.
Naturally, no student will EVER read this little bit of American history in any public school. Nevertheless, easily verified, easily demonstrated to anyone who wishes to read simple historical fact.
These idiots should be darned glad they even have a job.
I’m getting laid off, too!
‘Bastards lucky to have jobs....
Fire them all.
Another reason public transit will NEVER catch on nationwide. I would NEVER give up my car and be totally at the mercy of union government employees to get me where I need to go.
This strike and the new “Bike Paths” which have given one lane to bikers (for those swank people who insist on riding their bicycles in the middle of the city) on each of two main streets in and out of center city - leaving each street with only one lane for the automobile traffic for which they were intended - should crate catastrophic traffic jams........
Please please PLEASE let them strike until the urine-smelling buses have cobwebs all over their seats. All Pennsylvania residents need to call their legislators immediately and tell them they better not authorize one thin dime of state money to SEPTIC. Let the city figure it out.
Why nobody wants to work in Philly ping
Phils in five!
Of course. They’re taking advantage of the situation and holding the city hostage.
Honest to goodness. Unemployment is rising across the nation; these people are lucky to have jobs!!! Unions are blinded by greed, but that is not news.
strike, walk away from a pay check and health care............do it, I dare you!
Certainly there is a way they can be, but it'll never happen.
Huh? Do you support the strike?
Septa goes on strike quite frequently. And it is the most costly mass transit system in the country. Riders pay more than in any major city in the U.S.
try about 3-6 times that amount, depending on the seat location. they never go for face value unless you are a season ticket holder and get first dibs from the box office.
The union threads on here are like the pitbull-kills-owner threads. You’d think at this point that reasonable people would figure out that unions are killers.
And that cost will only go up if the union sees to it, apparently. We’ve been through this in L.A. and it does shut down the city; maybe that’s the goal in Philly too.
No I don’t support it, I think they are idiots to walk off a job now, but if they want to let, them.
BTW, sometime last year I remember some money being set aside for just this situation by Rendell. Money came from the rest of the State for Philly and the Burgh.
Everyone around here in Southcentral PA was disgusted at having to pay for others transportation.
NJ Transit makes SEPTA look good.
There’s really nothing we can do about it. These well timed strikes are nothing new.
It won't bring the city to it's knees, but traffic will jam up, and it will have a domino effect. More police will be on hand to deal with traffic and other problems, etc. Septa knows it will be a great inconvenience.
Somehow, we’ve learned to get through it. But it hurts business and some pepople can’t get to work etc. And yes, afterwards, ticket prices will go up!: )
It might be interesting with both the Yankees and the Giants in town this weekend, but I think most people are going to drive anyway. The Chickie and Pete’s van might be getting some extra work, though.
I’m hoping it doesn’t cause any problems, anyway. I’m heading up there for the Series myself.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.