Union officials, who did not return calls yesterday, have said the proposal does not adequately protect workers' jobs or health benefits. Toll collectors start at $15.76 an hour and after three years earn a maximum pay of $18.69 an hour.
Workers held signs in the rain - some for up to 12 hours - at interchanges across the state, including toll plazas at Fort Washington, Norristown and the Mid-County Interchange in Plymouth Township. Those workers are accustomed to working on Thanksgiving, and passing motorists encouraged them by honking their horns, but that didn't make yesterday any easier.
"This isn't fun," said a 50-year-old toll worker at Fort Washington who, following instructions from the union, would not give his name. "We waited 14 months; eventually you have to make a stand."
Without any negotiations going on, it appeared that the strike would last at least through Sunday, when traffic volumes approach those of the day before Thanksgiving - one of the most heavily traveled days of the year.
Turnpike officials decided to forgo about $2 million in revenues by charging no tolls at all on Wednesday to avoid traffic and safety problems. About 650,000 people were expected to travel on the system's 531 miles on Wednesday; 600,000 are anticipated for Sunday. A typical workday sees 450,000 to 500,000 motorists, Liebler said.
The free pass ended at 12:01 a.m. yesterday, when management - including the turnpike's finance director, its chief of staff and a commission spokesman - started manning the toll booths in 12-hour shifts. Fees were averaged out to a flat $2 for every motorist, and $15 for every truck. Vehicles with E-ZPass were charged those rates unless the normal fee was less.
