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The two sides in the strike of the Transport Workers Union Local 234 against SEPTA management are do"• ing a lot of talking — just not to each other. While the city and the 450,000 people who rely on SEPTA subways, buses and trolleys every day are beginning to feel the increasing effects of the transit shutdown, neither the union nor SEPTA seems willing to come to the table to negotiate a new contract. Or rather, according to representatives from both sides, it is the other side that does not want to make any concessions. "All's quiet at the bargaining table — regrettably," SEPTA spokesperson Stephan Rosenfeld said. 'This is a totally unnecessary strike land) the vast majority of union members feel that way." "The TWU is prepared to negotiate at any time," TWU business agent Bruce Bodner countered. "We've been trying to negotiate since December. The problem in this dispute is SEPTA's inability to negotiate in good faith." On Monday, more than 5,200 SEPTA employees walked off the job at noon after working for 2 1/2 months without a contract. The union and management had been negotiating since December to draft a new contract to replace the old one, which expired March 15. Talks broke down the day before the strike began and have not resumed since. At the heart of the TWU's grievances against management are the 47 "take-away demands" negotiators made of union leaders, Bodner said. He blasted the plans by SEPTA to "take back rights and benefits that are already in our contracts." He cited Blue Cross/Blue Shield indemnity health coverage, job-picking rights for maintenance workers