SEPTA, Union Continue Back-And-Forth As Threat Of Strike Looms
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – SEPTA's largest union says a strike can be avoided if the agency agrees to binding arbitration.
Local 234's contract expired back on March 15th, and the last of the three transit workers' contracts is set to expire at midnight on Sunday, April 6th.
SEPTA is declining arbitration. The agency released a statement that reads:
SEPTA believes that the parties can best work out their differences by engaging in good faith negotiations. It is not in the best interest of SEPTA, its employees, the union or the taxpayers for a third party – with no vested interest in the day to day operations of the Authority - to dictate the wages, benefits and working conditions of SEPTA's workers. The union's threat to strike does nothing to move the parties closer to an agreement. SEPTA urges the union to continue bargaining at the table so that the parties can reach an amicable settlement.