BY JASON COUGHLIN
PHILADELPHIA - On July 10 a tentative agreement was
reached between negotiators for Transport Workers Union
(TWU) Local 234 and the Southeastern Pennsylvania
Transportation Authority (SEPTA). The 5,600 members of the
TWU, who had been on strike since June 1, returned to work
July 11. Union members are receiving copies of the
agreement and will be taking a ratification vote on July 24.
Concessions sought by SEPTA during the strike included the introduction of part-time workers, contracting out maintenance work, takebacks in workers compensation, a sweeping "management rights" clause, and changes in disciplinary procedures that would make it easier to fire workers.
Both the bosses and the TWU leadership claim victory in the strike.
Media accounts of the agreement indicate that concessions were accepted by the union, but SEPTA did not get everything they sought. SEPTA failed to win the right to fire workers injured on the job who are off work for more than six months. Instead, workers will get one year minimum sick leave with 10 additional weeks for each year of service. The tentative agreement, however, puts a cap on the maximum amount of workers compensation that can be received.
The outcome of negotiations on the "management rights" clause is unclear, but the press reports that it is a watered down version of the original proposal by SEPTA. The bosses' demand to begin hiring part-time workers has been left to binding arbitration.
Without knowing many details about the tentative contract, Transport union members who spoke with Militant reporters were upbeat and felt the strike demonstrated that the deep concessions being demanded by SEPTA and the City Administration could be held back.
"We knew it would be hard after it went on for three and then four weeks. But we couldn't go back and give SEPTA what they wanted," explained bus driver James Brown. "Because of the economy, many realized that if they went back, things would just get worse, people would be fired. I hope people are watching this strike, so that they can learn that you can stand up."
Several strikers told Militant reporters that they were prepared to stay out until the fall, and were surprised the strike ended when it did.
While the big-business press has glorified the role of Democratic congressman Robert Brady in mediating the end of the strike, TWU members point to the cohesion and confidence of their union as the key fact in SEPTA's decision to retreat from its initial offer.
Throughout the strike the media, in concert with Philadelphia's Mayor Rendell and other politicians, waged a concerted campaign to convince the public to take the side of SEPTA bosses. For example, the Philadelphia Daily News ran a special "Strike Back" column every day, offering free cab fare to those who wrote the best complaints about the strike.
But many workers who depend on public transportation didn't go for this line. Bus drivers said they were pleasantly surprised by the reception they got from SEPTA riders upon returning to work. " I didn't find a single nasty response, and one rider told me she was glad we stood up to SEPTA," commented John, a driver at Callowhill.
Jason Coughlin is a member of the United Auto Workers.