The news out of Metro Philly [Metro broke a story?!] that the strike was over came out about 11p. I hoofed it to The Bellevue Hotel to catch the press conference which was delayed for almost an hour after the announcement went out to the local news. Just before the press conference was about to start, the first elevator in the hotel lobby dinged, but the doors didn't open. All the principals involved - Gov. Ed Rendell, Mayor Michael Nutter, TWU Local 234 President Willie Brown, Rep. Bob Brady, SEPTA GM Joe Casey - were stuck in the elevator. Maintenance had to be called. A crowbar was brought to the lobby and the elevator full of the most powerful politicos in SE PA were set free. Above is a photo of Brown and Rendell exiting the elevator after buzzing the alarm several times.
Governor Rendell took to the mic first, explaining quick and dirty that the strike was over and that an agreement had been reached. "Service will resume tomorrow for the AM rush," he explained. And here's Rendell's opening statements of the press conference telling exactly what was changed:
"Let the buses roll," Mayor Nutter said, while looking the most refreshed out of the group. Nutter applauded everyone's efforts in bringing an end to the strike.
Nutter turned to TWU Local 234 President Willie Brown to shake his hand. Brown basically blamed Nutter for the strike calling him "Little Caesar" on Day 1.
A bleary-eyed Pres. Brown was relieved the strike was over and noted that they were hammering out the final little details.
Always up for a little more face time in front of the camera, Rendell pointed out that "It's a good agreement for the taxpayer," addressing concerns that monies meant for other projects in the state were to be diverted to cover the costs of the new agreement.
Rep. Bob "Strikebuster" Brady took to the mic to commend the work that everyone involved put in, pointing to TWU Local 234 President Willie Brown first. He added that everyone worked all the time and negotiations "never broke off" as reported.
After the press conference was over, Gov Rendell and Mayor Nutter had what appeared to be a fairly serious conversation with tons of firm gestures. Their relationship hasn't been the best of times during the Mayor's short tenure.
NBC10 reports:
SEPTA management made a minor change in the National Healthcare language and also agreed to pay for three years of dental coverage.
The contract will be put to a vote Monday by the membership and is expected to be ratified.
Well, the SEPTA strike of 2009 is all over folks. I'm happy my 11p prediction was wrong. I'm almost always wrong in predicting things.
If any of the newsies want to get at me for photos, get at me.
Send in your comments/rants/stories/photos/videos! Rants everything else.
4 comments:
Well, i'm glad they get their bonuses and pensions.
I'll definitely think about that next time a loved one loses their jobs.
I"ll also be sure to NOT thank them when I get off the bus (i'm going to hold out as much as I can before I take one of those now) because they definitely have lost ANY respect I had for them.
Rendell might have said that SEPTA diverted funds and that it won't affect the tax payer...but I don't buy it. Unless these moneys were coming from the higher ups (like Willie Brown up there, AKA Mr. I Look Extremely Constipated from eating too much) I don't buy that this isn't going to affect us.
A lot of train bridges/tracks need to be taken care of, let's hope we don't hear from a major accident caused by non-maintenance of the already-crumbling structure.
Thanks TWU! Thanks Willie Brown, I hope that extra money brings happiness!
your vitriol is astounding, angie. and since you know all the workers at septa, you obviously have the right to categorize them ALL as mean and nasty. let's hope you even had any respect for them before, because we all know people of color and working class whites deserve none when they are 'lazy, stupid, and overpaid,' as you have drawn the contrasts elsewhere. additionally, making cheap shots at brown's weight really shows me that you're in it to win it.
maybe your family and friends wouldn't be in their situations if they fought for themselves, but it appears to me, that you and they are just as scared to demand better, and you're ready to accept whatever terms the owners of capital and funny capital decide to run past your sensors as 'logic.' the logic of domination only works if people who will be most negatively affected accept it.
as i've said before, if you want better, fight for it and stop bitching about those ready to demand it for themselves. closed mouths don't get fed.
Nice work, Albert -- great shots! I'm so glad the strike has ended; I don't think I could take the ongoing whining I've been hearing since last Tuesday.
Justin - don't be so hard on Angie. She's not as bad as you might think. Unfortunately, there are a ton of folks out there who have been conditioned to subconsciously side with management whenever a union goes out on strike. Most of it has to do with not understanding the situation on the ground for the people doing the work. Most people talk as if SEPTA employees are rolling in cash, which makes it obvious to me they don't realize how substandard the SEPTA deal has been up to this point.
What people need to come to terms with is that until SEPTA allows for binding arbitration (like several other major transit agencies already have), the strikes are a given. But when those strikes occur, there's a lot more than just working people to blame.
Must be tough to be stuck somewhere...
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