Irate Rendell Quits SEPTA Talks

PHILADELPHIA - Gov. Ed Rendell says SEPTA union leaders reneged on a handshake deal to end a strike, and he will withdraw $7 million in state funding if a vote isn’t held.

Rendell gave union management until Monday to put the contract to a vote, or lose the money.

He is also he will not act as a negotiator after what Rendell said was his mistreatment by union management.

“Let the members vote,” Rendell said.

The Governor labeled the union managements’ acts as “absolute insanity.”

Rendell was visibly upset at the 6 p.m. news conference and said union negotiators came back on Saturday with “six or seven demands” after Rendell and local power broker Bob Brady said they had a deal with union leaders.

There is a last minute twist in talks about the SEPTA strike that has put a settlement in doubt.

Earlier on Saturday, a national spokesman for SEPTA's largest union said reports of a tentative agreement were 'premature' and the negotiations aimed at ending a five-day strike continued.

Spokesman Jamie Horwitz first said a counteroffer is being relayed to SEPTA management through U.S. Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pa.

Horwitz then told Philly.com at 2 p.m, that the counteroffer had not yet been sent to SEPTA management, and that two more union votes may be needed if SEPTA management accepts the union's offer.

He declined comment on Gov. Ed Rendell's announcement Friday night that the two sides had reached agreement on a tentative pact.

SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney called the statements by Horwitz "brand-new to us."

The union walked out early Tuesday in a dispute largely centered on pension benefits, idling city subways, trolleys and buses.

Gov. Ed Rendell said late Friday that a tentative contract agreement has been reached.

"I'm very optimistic that the trains and buses will be in operation tomorrow evening," the governor said at a news conference.

Rendell, who has been brokering the talks, said negotiators for Transport Workers Union Local 234 and SEPTA tentatively agreed on a proposed contract and both sides are set to take a vote on Saturday.

"We hope to be announcing the resumption of service by Saturday evening," SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said late Friday.

The union represents about 5,000 bus drivers, subway and trolley operators and mechanics. They walked out early Tuesday in a dispute largely centered on pension benefits.

The union had threatened to strike while the World Series was in town last weekend, but negotiators continued bargaining after Rendell threatened "significant consequences" if that happened. The union went on strike hours after the series between the Phillies and Yankees shifted back to New York.

SEPTA's regional railroad is still running because those workers are represented by a different union, but that system has experienced problems of its own this week.

On Wednesday, an R5 train caught fire as it headed downtown, causing delays and confusion but no serious injuries.

Slideshow: Images Of SEPTA Train Fire | Videos: Passenger Interviews | Fire Aftermath

On Thursday, a packed commuter train struck and killed a rail worker during the morning rush, stranding hundreds of riders as lines had to be shut down for hours.

Related: SEPTA Inspector Killed By Train | Slideshow: Images From Scene

Neither accident was related to increased volume due to the strike, SEPTA said.