- Trade Tired Souls for Tired Feet:
SEPTA management- The Workers Have Paid, How About You? SEPTA claims that the proposed health care cuts stem from lingering financial difficulties. SEPTA workers have gone without a raise for two years and without a any new pension contributions for four years. SEPTA workers are among the worst paid transit workers in the country. SEPTA is the fifth largest transit system in the country, the workers are ranked 20th on the pay scale. SEPTA new hires start off working with very low wages (about $12/hour). Why would the union settle for such low wages for all of these years? Because the union members want to have the best health care. THEY HAVE PAID FOR IT! Now, SEPTA management (who get 100% free health care and salaries as high as $195,000) wants them to pay again!? We would rather walk in dignity than ride in shame as our neighbors get robbed by SEPTA management.
We walk while SEPTA Management raids the fare box. We have heard SEPTA Managment demand sacrifices from the workers. However, when SEPTA Management is asked for sacrifices in return, they flatly reject the idea. The Transportation Workers Union Local 234 has forwarded a proposal by City Controller Jonathan Saidel which makes health care co-pays apply to everyone at SEPTA based on salary. If SEPTA's budget problems are caused by rising health care costs, as is often stated by management, then everyone who gets health care from SEPTA employment (not only blue-collar workers earning $25,000/year, but also SEPTA managers earning $195,000/year) should have to pay something. SEPTA Management has declined to even consider this option. Every one has pitched in- riders pay extremely high fares, workers have given up thousands of dollars worth of pay increases and benefits, but General Manager, Faye Moore, doesn't want to pay.
"Faye doesn't want to pay"
SEPTA MANAGERS SEPTA WORKERS
Full Paid Sick Leave No Sick Pay for First Three Days No Premium Co-Pay Premium Co-Pays for first 27mos. of Employment Full Benefit Package No Vision, Dental or from 1st Day Prescription Plan until 28th month of employment. 5 Days Bereavement 3 Days Bereavement Pay Pay Annual Pay Increases No Pay Raises in 23months Annual Pension No Pension Increase Increases since 2001 Un-capped Pension $50,000 capped Pension (No TWU member earns $50,000/yr without working overtime)
These workers have paid enough. Help them fight back by sending this message and by marching with us in solidarity.
|
