It's possible that SEPTA transit police could go on strike at 2pm today.
What do you think? Are SEPTA police being compensated adequately or do they deserve a raise? Does the possible strike make you less likely to ride public transit? Let us know!
« Saving money, but losing out? | TheNextMayor.com Main Page | Wireless Philadelphia: back from the dead? »
-
SEPTA Transit Police Strike - Open Thread
Comments (20)
The transit police do not have the responsibility, area, or danger that the Philadelphia Police Department has - therefore they are not entitled to the same pay.
Posted by Gil H. | June 12, 2008 9:27 AM
You can't just say "I want to get paid what XYZ employees who for somebody else get paid," you have to work with your employer, based on your own, unique circumstances. If SEPTA police are unhappy with what they're paid, relative to the PPD, they should quit and join the PPD -- I hear they're hiring.
Posted by Goofy | June 12, 2008 9:51 AM
It seems they don't do a very good job at protecting the public as it is with people being beaten to death in the Subway.
Posted by Frank G | June 12, 2008 9:55 AM
If they want to get paid what the Philadelphia police make, then theys hould become REAL policemen/women. And then to have them threaten us by saying "it won't be safe to ride septa if we goon strike" What a laugh...I never see them anyway! I saw them for a few days aget that guy got killed. Where were they when he was attacked?? For this they deserve a raise??? NO WAY do they deserve it!
Posted by G Girl | June 12, 2008 12:59 PM
I rarely saw Transit Police when I rode SEPTA frequently. That being said, 30k as a starting salary is pretty measly for someone who's job is to put themselves in harm's way for the public good.
Posted by Ev | June 12, 2008 2:05 PM
I don't give a rat's booty if they go on strike. I take SEPTA everyday but I have a carry permit and a Browning 9MM pistol with 13 hollow points in the clip. I would relish the opportunity to take out some skell terrorizing innocent unarmed riders. They never know what line or bus I'm riding so these vermin have to ask themselves one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?
Posted by Take back our city | June 12, 2008 3:44 PM
I also don't feel like I see them as often as I should. To be fair, though, reports about the beating all mentioned that a SEPTA cop rushed to assist the victim, scaring the perps away but, of course, that failed to stop the asthma attack.
Posted by Goofy | June 12, 2008 4:52 PM
It seems to me that most people don't know what septa cops do or how many drug arrest they make or gun arrest for that matter, and as far as you not thinking they are real cops, stand in front of one and bust a window better yet walk up and slap one and see what happens
Posted by Anonymous | June 12, 2008 9:22 PM
Sorry septa p.d You could be replaced within a year we have 12 million illegal mexican immigrants that would do your job for 5 buck an hour nit to mention septa p.d is a good job that pays good also considering most cops love ahat they do would proabably do it for free if they could
Posted by Lou dobbs | June 12, 2008 11:56 PM
Gil h they do have the same danger theres just alot less of them...We have a ton of philadelphia police most departments who have as many of police as we do have at least a half million more residents..
Posted by Lou dobbs | June 12, 2008 11:58 PM
To anonymous...I think septa cops are great cops..You said you make alot of drug arrests but youll never make a dent in drug traffic..Our borders are wide open..If they can smuggle in a body they can smuggle in drugs..The drug arrests were good but id hate to think while you were doing your paperwork on that drug arrest you couldve been preventing that guys death..Its not septa police im mad at your just doing your job but unfortunately the drugs you take off people will be replaced in 5 minutes three fold..I wish the septa police were more concerned with the guns murder and robberies..
Posted by Lou dobbs | June 13, 2008 12:52 AM
To lou dobbs I would like to formerly commend you on your poetic rhetoric, for that's all it is mear rhetoric septa police take guns and killers off of thge street and the powers that be sweep it under the rug ask the public the constituents of the ghetto who don't have new bmw's and audis and have to ride the system septa cops that's who and some in paerticular look pretty when doing an ugly job check the real stats guns are on the system until septa cops get them and then they take them to a real jail where a real judge let's them back on the street to rape your sweet mother
Posted by Anonymous | June 13, 2008 1:23 AM
Whoa, lets not use my mom and rape in the same sentence, besides shes not steppin foot on anything septa let alone enter the city boundary, shes smart she hates the city..But All i meant to say is i see these old bum drug addicts who besides asking me for a dollar dont annoy or bother me..They arent the trouble makers on the el..Its the little wolfpacks of teenagers who cut school who have nothing to lose that would just assume murder you than get an education there the ones that i wish would be arrested more..
Posted by Lou dobbs | June 13, 2008 3:26 AM
Lets look at the facts based on the information in the article. If we compare the 6 policing entities it seems clear that the highest correlation would be with the housing authority. It is unclear if the housing authority has a no strike restriction.
Assuming they do then we have to discount that target by the strike rights value. I present that it should be comparable to the difference in insurance costs with and without tort rights. Now all we have to do is adjust the PHA schedule and we have an equitable target. It seems clear that the PPD target is unreasonable upfront and is most unreasonalble as an all at once adjustment.
Posted by mike moores | June 13, 2008 9:33 AM
Why isit that those in the dark think they can shed light on the situation. The septa cops that I see working do the same job as the city police just underground,in confined environments which if anything is even more dangerous. In the past the mayor and other political figures have done ride alongs with city police I would love to see michael nutter on the train without the smug suit and tie so he could see what they have to deal with since he says they can't say how dangerous it will be if they strike, how rediculous is that, I would think they know the real deal down there!
Posted by Anonymous | June 13, 2008 12:06 PM
I'm yummy!
Posted by Red Herring | June 13, 2008 12:47 PM
whoa there mr nutter you wont be able to replace some 2800 bus and train operators that easy. so you just played yourself and now we in the labor unions know just what to expect when the contract is up in march 2009 for local 234. you democrats talk about those nasty money grubbing republicans however i just dont see much difference in the two parties. there's not a dimes worth of difference between the two. they all know how to line their pockets from the tax coffers. you dont need a raise or any other politician in the next 10 or more years to come. i've saved up enough money for say 30 days worth of strike funds for march 2009. see ya next year mikey. lest we forget
Posted by ejt | June 15, 2008 1:15 AM
Outsource SEPTA as a whole! their is no reason to be paying them or the transit police with our taxes. If you've ever really thought about it we don't need all the ticket takers on the trains who charge you an extra 2$ to do their job. ex:
PATCO runs better and on time with just a conductor. the outsourced co. would have teir own security. The unions are the reason good businesses and jobs stay far away from Philly. Sad but true !!!!!
Posted by outsource | June 17, 2008 10:35 AM
Outsource SEPTA as a whole! their is no reason to be paying them or the transit police with our taxes. If you've ever really thought about it we don't need all the ticket takers on the trains who charge you an extra 2$ to do their job. ex:
PATCO runs better and on time with just a conductor. the outsourced co. would have teir own security. The unions are the reason good businesses and jobs stay far away from Philly. Sad but true !!!!!
Posted by outsource | June 17, 2008 10:37 AM
It's good to see that many people have an opinion concerning the SEPTA police strike. However, let's remember the bigger picture here. The bottom line is that you have a group of 'unionized' employees who are fighting to be compensated fairly for their work, compared to other agencies who have similar responsibilities.
Before you start to bad mouth them, do some research, and find out exactly how effective they've been over the years in reducing crime in the subway. No small feat, for sure. Then remember that like many other people, some who may be family members or friends of yours, or maybe even yourself, who work for a large corporation or governmental entity, that their fight is against those that for years have refused to be fair in their treatment of their employees, until forced to do so through other means or incidents. Regardless of whether you believe the SEPTA cops are 'real cops' or not, they continue to go to work everyday and lock-up the bad guys who rob, hurt, harrass, and otherwise help to make life miserable for people who either choose to, or are forced to, take public transportation to and from work, school, etc. Anyone who willingly puts their life on the line for the service of others should be compensated accordingly. And for those that said they rarely see the transit cops, how about writing a letter to the SEPTA GM or SEPTA board, and telling them that you would like for them to hire more cops ,so that there would be a larger prescence on the system.
Posted by rush2745 | June 25, 2008 6:29 PM