SEPTA on strike threat is ended

A contract agreement was expected today after Gov. Rendell kept negotiators talking until 10:15 last night.

Negotiators for SEPTA and its largest union, ordered back to the bargaining table by Gov. Rendell to avert the threat of a transit strike during the World Series, were optimistic last night that a new contract would be reached today.

Health-care issues had been resolved, and the sides were reported to be close to an agreement on wages as talks ended for the day at 10:15 p.m. at the Bellevue. The two sides were to reconvene at 6 p.m. today.

As he was leaving the Bellevue, Willie Brown, the new president of Transport Workers Union Local 234, said members would not see an increase in their contributions to the cost of health insurance. Members currently contribute 1 percent of their base pay toward coverage.

On wages, Brown said the two sides were “just about there.”

Jerri Williams, a SEPTA spokeswoman, declined to comment on specifics of the talks, but said they had been helped by the presence of Rendell and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D., Phila.). Read more