Avoiding SEPTA strike has come down to resolving pension issues, source says
With just three hours to go before almost 5,000 transit workers in Philadelphia strike, negotiations have come down to a dispute over pensions, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said.
The union workers are unhappy that their pensions don't grow commensurate to their pay once a worker makes more than $50,000. Managers pensions are uncapped, and members of Transportation Workers Union 234 want their people to also have uncapped pensions, the source said.
While there are other issues at issue, including medical benefits and schedules, it appears a strike that could affect hundreds of thousands of people will be either avoided or begun over the pension question.
SEPTA officials said negotiations were still going in earnest shortly before 9 p.m.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20161031_SEPTA__union__still_talking_as_possible_strike_looms.html
