A tentative, four-year agreement between the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and its union employees has been reached, Gov. Ed Rendell (D) announced Monday morning, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports (King, Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/7). More than 5,000 SEPTA employees and members of the Transport Workers Union Local 234 and the United Transportation Union Local 1594 have been on strike since Oct. 31, in part over health insurance (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 11/1). The two sides agreed to an annual 3% wage increase and employee contributions to the cost of medical insurance plans for the first time. Contributions will be 1% of each employee's wage, capped at 40 hours of pay weekly (Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/7). In addition, the union received a "significant increase" in pensions and some work rule changes under the agreement, Rendell said (Todt, AP/Indianapolis Star, 11/7). Other terms of the contract were not disclosed (Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/7). Originally, the union negotiators were bargaining for no employee contributions to health coverage, and SEPTA officials were looking for workers to cover 5% of their health insurance premiums (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 11/1). The deal must be ratified by both sides before it becomes official. "We have an agreement, and it is a good agreement," Rendell said. Transport Workers Union Local 234 President Jeff Brooks, said, "This works for all parties" (AP/Indianapolis Star, 11/7).

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