SEPTA Union Boss Calls Out Fox 29

Philadelphia - SEPTA union leader Willie Brown challenged the media Saturday night, to go out and ask picketers if they were ready to except Gov. Ed Rendell's deal to end the strike.

Fox 29's Sean Tobin did just that before Brown's press conference, which led to some tense moments.

The 25 pickets Tobin spoke said they are ready to vote on the deal on the negotiation table, and wanted  to go back to work.

When Fox 29 told Brown that his rank and file didn't agree with him, he said that wasn't truthful.

"I say that I don't believe. I just got off the phone with Comley ... We are not going to put it to a vote," Brown said.

Brown also said Rendell's threat to take back $7 million in state funding was meant to divide the union members.

The nasty impasse of the transit strike came just 24 hours after Rendell said a tentative deal had been struck.

A visibly upset Rendell alleged on Satruday that union leaders went back on their word and offered 9 counterprosals on Saturday.

Rendell said he was leaving the bargaining table, with his state funds, unless union leaders let members vote on the deal.

Brown said strongly on Saturday night that would not happen and he would not let outsiders change the rules the union follows.