Business & Tech
Aqua PA Union Workers Expected to Picket Saturday
They have held similar pickets this month, according to officials.
is expecting union workers to picket 11 a.m. Saturday, according to an email sent to Bryn Mawr business owners Friday afternoon.
“Aqua Pennsylvania is in a contract dispute with its 285 union employees that are members of SEIU Local 32BJ,” Aqua Pennsylvania President Steve Tagert wrote in an email forwarded to the Bryn Mawr business community. “While we have already increased their benefits and pay under our new contract offer, the remaining dispute is over employees contributing their fair share toward healthcare benefits, the same as the other 1,400 Aqua employees throughout our Aqua America companies currently do.”
Tagert went on to say the picketing has occurred other times this month in front of the 762 W. Lancaster Ave. headquarters and that this Saturday’s picketing may extend into the Bryn Mawr business community.
Find out what's happening in Bryn Mawr-Gladwynefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“We wanted to make you aware of this and certainly hope that it does not impact your business in any way,” Tagert wrote. “We can assure you that we are committed to reaching a resolution on the healthcare with our employees and bringing an end to this dispute.”
Aqua America made close to $124 million in profits in 2010, with executives seeing a 17-percent increase in their total average compensation, Julie Karant, of the Aqua PA union (32BJ SEIU), wrote in an email to Patch. Karant called Aqua PA's healthcare premiums unaffordable for working families.
Find out what's happening in Bryn Mawr-Gladwynefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“The men and women who keep the water running in Eastern Pennsylvania need and deserve affordable healthcare for their families,” said Wayne MacManiman, 32BJ Mid-Atlantic Director. “It’s time for Aqua to put working people in front of huge corporate profits.”
Aqua notified the Lower Merion Police Department about the expected picketing, according to Tagert.
In an email, Lower Merion Police Superintendent Michael McGrath noted this has been an ongoing issue. Police have experienced no problems with the picketing, he added.
Editor's Note: This article was updated at 6:30 p.m. with comments from 32BJ SEIU.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
