Philadelphia public transport workers turned up for work yesterday despite pay talks hitting the buffers just before their contract expired at midnight on Sunday.

Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 234 president Willie Brown said that Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Septa) workers would not strike yet, even though little progress had been made in negotiations.

“I will let you know when it comes time,” said Mr Brown.

Septa said it offered a two-year contract with wage rises of 2 per cent the first year and 3 per cent in the second.

But workers would have to spend an additional 1 per cent of their wages on healthcare premiums.

“Septa is saying TWU members are overpaid and must contribute more to health insurance even though managers pay one third as much as our members for their pensions, but get three times as much when they retire,” the union said on its website.