Members of the transit police union consider SEPTA’s latest contract offer too skimpy and “want to walk now,” but the leadership will continue talking with management for now to try to get more money, union Vice President Troy Parham said Tuesday.
“We’re making progress, but I have to tell you I don’t believe that we’re near the end at all,” Parham said about 4 p.m. during a short break in the negotiations at SEPTA headquarters on Market Street. “Our members don’t like the deal. We need to get something to sell them.”
SEPTA also has told the Fraternal Order of Transit Police Lodge 109, which represents about 170 patrol officers, that it cannot afford to do better, Parham said.
“We’re still talking and we’ll talk as long as they’ll talk, but I don’t know how much longer we can do it if your official stance is there’s no more money,” he said.
As of 5:30 p.m. the two sides were still negotiating.
On the table now, Parham said: A two-year deal that would give the patrol officers a 6% raise, with half paid in the first year and the rest in the second, as well as a $3,000 signing bonus. On Monday, the Fraternal Order of Transit Police Lodge 109 spurned a 13% raise spread over three years, plus the signing bonus.
