According to USA Today, the strike has ended on the eve of Election day.
A strike that paralyzed public transportation in Philadelphia for a week ended Monday when the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and a union representing almost 5,000 employees announced a deal on the eve of Election Day.
“Tentative agreement reached. We are off strike, ” TWU Local 234 announced on its website.
The deal was struck hours after the transit agency announced it was seeking a court injunction to force its employees back to work. SEPTA said any disruption of public transit would inhibit city residents from voting in Tuesday’s elections.
SEPTA workers walked out after midnight Nov. 1 over issues including pension benefits and the amount of time off given to drivers between shifts. The strike idled subways, buses and trolleys that provide almost 1 million rides each weekday.
Septa said on its website that a deal was reached and that “limited bus, trolley and subway service will resume later today.” SEPTA said service was expected to be fully restored Tuesday.
Philadelphia is the nation’s fifth-largest city, and many of its 1.5 million residents don’t own cars. Any issue that might disrupt voter turnout Tuesday would be problematic for Mayor Jim Kenney and other Democratic leaders of this overwhelmingly Democratic city that is expected to provide big numbers for Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid. Pennsylvania is considered a swing state, and Republican hopeful Donald Trump has worked hard to claim its 20 electoral votes.
We are glad things could be settled!
