No Sympathy for Local 85

Over the summer I overheard a PAT bus driver badmouth Dan Onorato after he said the Port Authority needed to cut costs. The sense of entitlement by this man was really sad. His attitude was the world would stop turning if he was no longer driving a bus.

Today I learned the Port Authority's union contract with bus-trolley hourly workers provides the most generous retiree health-care benefits when compared to a number of other public sector contracts, according to a benchmarking study released today by the Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The study also said wages paid to members of Local 85, Amalgamated Transit Union, are the highest of any transit system in the U.S. when adjust for the cost of living in the region.

Notice to Local 85 members.... You are creating your own demise. Taxpayers are tired of subsidising you under the guise of "transportation for lower income earners'. Mass transit does not work in this region. It's bleeds money and union greed does not to create much sympathy.

Here is how bad it is:
SEPTA, (Philadelphia-based Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) with three times as many employees, will spend $7.3 million on retiree healthcare benefits this year while the Port Authority spends $29.2 million.

Under the current contract, a retiree under age 65 with a spouse costs the Port Authority about $18,000 a year in insurance premiums.

The authority's average hourly wage, when adjusted for inflation, amounts to $23.30 an hour, higher than any other major metro transit system.

Anyone see a problem here??? It's time for PAT to stand on it's own. If were up to me they would not see another dime of public money. It's sink or swim time. The union knows how to take, I wonder if they can give as well?

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