SEPTA, transit police union return to bargaining table

SEPTA Public Affairs Director Richard Maloney and Fraternal Order of Transit Police spokesman Anthony Ingargiola both tell NewsWorks they’re ready to get back to the bargaining table.

“We should have been able to conclude it long ago,” Maloney said about yesterday’s walk-out by transit police, commenting that the transit authority was given just 20 minutes of notice about the strike.

Update, 5 p.m. With the Transit Police Strike entering its 24th hour, the parties have been brought together at an undisclosed location, according to an update from Ingargiola.

Ingargiola called that a failure to communicate effectively, saying the union had put out its “last best offer” before negotiations broke down. He said the union has not had contact with SEPTA since the strike began yesterday afternoon.

Both declined to get into the specifics of the negotiations, with Maloney saying those talks are best saved for the bargaining table.

In the meantime, police in Philadelphia and its nearby suburbs are filling in the gaps.