Over the last few days, we’ve been hearing from a lot of you, dear readers, about our position regarding the SEPTA strike. Some of you have been pro, and some of you have been con. But as the mail ó and the debate ó heats up, it might help for us clarify our position. It’s basically this: Fuck these guys. Fuck all of them. Many readers have bristled at how we’ve singled out the SEPTA workers as opposed to SEPTA management, and how it flies in the face of our usual deep commitment to the underdog. Don’t get us wrong: That has, and never will, change. However, it’s our view that SEPTA is rotten from bottom to top, and top to bottom. We concede that a lot of the bile we have directed towards SEPTA ó and of late, the rank-and-file in particular ó has been visceral. And there is a reason for it. Much of our ó and to be sure, the city’s ó anger towards SEPTA and its workers is merely cashing a check of ill will that these pricks have been writing for years, whether their collars are blue or white. As the former bear the brunt because they are the public face of SEPTA, this will be a lesson they’ll have to learn. At every negotiation/strike moment over the years, the SEPTA rank-and-file have behaved like spoiled brats. As it stands now, the negotiations stall basically at a 5% medical insurance co-pay. Most people would kill for that. Does this mean that our sympathies go to management? Fuck no. SEPTA, like much of the Philly patronage job pool, is run like a fiefdom. And it’s always gonna suck until it isn’t. So should we, as consumers and citizens, rally for a better SEPTA? Of course, just as we should rally for a better PGW. But what is the reality of this? The reality is that until major change comes ó from the top, from a viable competitor, from a federal ruling, whatever ó we’re screwed. Blue and white collar alike, it will be SEPTA’s job to win us back. The only question about that is: Does anyone at SEPTA even give a shit?

This entry was posted on Monday, October 31st, 2005 at 2:39 pm.