PHILADELPHIA—A national spokesman for the Philadelphia transit system's largest union says reports of a tentative agreement were 'premature' and the negotiations aimed at ending a five-day strike continue.

Transport Workers Union Local 234 spokesman Jamie Horwitz says progress is being made and a counteroffer is being relayed to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority through U.S. Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pa.

He says if that is accepted, the union will quickly schedule a vote by the union board and the full membership—but he says "none of that has happened as of yet."

He declined comment on Gov. Ed Rendell's announcement Friday night that the two sides had reached agreement on a tentative pact. SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney called the statements by Horwitz "brand-new to us."

The union walked out early Tuesday in a dispute largely centered on pension benefits, idling city subways, trolleys and buses.

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