Let’s be a little more specific:

“All members of the union will get a $1,250 bonus in the first year for ratifying the agreement. The contract also calls for a 2.5 percent pay raise in the second year, and a 3 percent raise in each of the final three years.”

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20091120_Transport_workers_OKs_contract_with_SEPTA.html

If you don’t include the bonus, we’re talking an average a 2.3% raise PER year ( (2.5+3+3+3)/5 ). However, we must include the bonus and let’s not forget the compounding effect of applying a percentage repeatedly. So if you’re saying “over five years” you’re actually saying, in the case of someone making 40K at the time of contract who received the signing bonus, a 15.5% increase in pay “over 5 years.” ( (46,201.87 – 40,000)/40,000 )

This 15.5% increase in pay is guaranteed independent of performance (which we will likely agree is VERY poor) and external budgetary conditions. Going back to incentives – you can see how there is none if SEPTA can hold the public hostage every single contract cycle.

@Tips: C’mon now, be fair: AD Amorosi’s columns ARE heavily edited.

Upon a brief review, I’m still looking for the use of union dues to directly subsidize the battle for single payer – as opposed to simply creating a resource page.

Barry:

I propose the same for SEPTA. I don’t think that they should never strike: I merely think that she be subject to similar limitations and should exhaust arbitration set before unbiased parties (which would behoove them to make coherent claims with some sort analysis backing such claims – and maybe garner a modicum of PR savvy) before going on strike (3 times in 11 years!).

I think that you may be glorifying the 9month job just a little. At the very least, you recognize that they work very hard in the those 9 months – much longer than 8 hours days (especially when you factor in the continued education required while on the job for continued certification) for Salaries – not wages with overtime. I can’t speak on pensions though. How would those of a teacher compare to those of a SEPTA worker? I would argue that it’s easier for a teacher to be fired than a SEPTA employee. I’m talking out of my ass here, though. I agree that both could use more incentive to do a better job.

You’re right about the expense coming from another public service. That is why I am concerned about TWU going on strike every contract cycle until they get what they want. I fear they may be milking blood from a stone. Pensions are hurting many government budgets – because they invested in games of chance rigged by Goldman Sachs (aka Obama’s or any Two-Party-Paradigm candidate’s economic cabinet). Yes, there is glut in the top levels of government offices (see Fumo / Bonusgate & Perzel / BRT patronage jobs, etc…), but until a litany of criminal investigations conclude, I fear that TWU’s victories will come at the expense of our libraries, wage taxes, property taxes, trash pickup, etc…

Have a great weekend all.

From http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20090830_Editorial__Riding_herd_on_pensions.html

Also why do people call teachers underpaid? They have top-notch benefits, a killer pension (way better than TWU), and they only work 9 months out of the year plus lots of vacation and sick days that roll over year to year. They also can’t get fired unless they drop their pants, and get raises and promotions based on seniority rather than performance. Factor all that in, and being a teacher is quite lucrative compared to many private sector jobs, and also explains some of the reasons that our public schools are complete shit. They have the same “incentives” to work hard that the SEPTA workers do; that is, very few.

I don’t know what a particular worker “deserves” but take a look at the state budget and start asking yourself why we have to cut the state EPA, parks & rec, gifted programs, etc. when over half the budget is dedicated to keep teachers’ and state workers’ pensions funded to an adequate level. Then decide who deserves what kind of pay (including pensions and benes) our public sector workers deserve, because every dollar is coming at the expense of another public service.

I would love to see documentation on TWU, specifically, spending money on health care reform I would like to see dollar amounts. Also, I would like to – without discounting your point completely – distinguish between substantial health care reform and that of the union-backed Democrats’ version of reform (opt-out Public Option that is not offered to folks who already have shitty Walmart-brand health plans being the best case scenario at this point in the legislative process). Spending money supporting Democratic candidates does not count in my book.

Also, I’d say that Unions exist as representatives of their particular unit of workers, so they must focus there. However, their efforts do spill out into the realm of “benefiting the working class” at large. Most unions, TWU included, actively support and lobby for comprehensive national health care reform. The reason is simple: Union contracts with employers would cost less if they didn’t include contributions to fund health care for each worker. Therefore Union labor would be more competitive, get more work, attract more members, etc.

In my opinion, it’s about time that SEPTA contracts are subject to arbitration/limitations like police/firemen and other Mass Transit agencies so that we are not “held hostage” almost every contract cycle.

“the majority of the people working for SEPTA don’t live anywhere near luxury”

Maybe, then, they should seek higher education like the rest of us jealous folks who do not have the benefit of unions and work for far less with significant debt. At any rate, can you blame folks for a lack of sympathy, especially when we’re the ones – not SEPTA management – who are inconvenienced by the strike. The fact that your average bus driver makes about as much as your average Teacher just blows my mind.

Until TWU Local or National puts there money towards benefiting the working class at large (for instance, lobbying single-payer healthcare) – rather than just looking out for themselves and consistently installing ineffectual/corrupt democratic insiders through campaign contributions, they will garner little sympathy from me. I’m not even a SEPTA rider (gave up SEPTA for biking years back) but I am still outraged. The idea that their victories, in any way, trickle down to the working class at large does not fly in my book (not that you’re claiming this).