Pensions Appear To Be Sticking Point As SEPTA Contract Talks Continue
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — Negotiations between Philadelphia's transit agency and the union representing 5,700 workers are ongoing amid a threat of a strike at midnight if an agreement on a new contract isn't reached.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the union met throughout the weekend and were scheduled to continue contract talks Monday.
SEPTA Releases Contingency Service Plan Ahead Of Potential Strike
A strike would affect Philadelphia bus, trolley and subway lines but not regional rail lines and service in areas outside the city. The city system's daily weekday ridership is about 800,000 trips, or about 400,000 people. More than 60,000 public, private and charter school students use the system to get to and from school.
Union officials say pension and health care benefits are key issues, but differences also remain on non-economic issues such as schedules, break time and driver fatigue.
On Monday night, sources told Eyewitness News that the last sticking point in the negotiations was a disagreement over union worker pensions vs. management pensions.
According to sources, management receives a full pension, while union workers are capped at $50,000. Sources say that union employees no longer want to be capped.
They add that SEPTA management is willing to spend the night negotiating and want to avoid the workers walking away from the table.
KYW Newsradio learned, from sources closes to the negotiation, that there was optimism that a deal could be reached.
The strike is still scheduled for midnight.
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