Sides Trade Blame in Philly Transit Strike

Union and management involved in a Philadelphia transit strike blamed each other for failed contract talks Tuesday, as thousands of commuters struggled to get around on the first full day of the walkout.

Extra traffic police appeared on street corners to keep swollen lanes of commuter traffic from turning center city into one huge jam, while residents from outlying areas abandoned cars and buses for a still-operating regional rail system.

The Transport Workers Union’s 5,200 members walked off their jobs Monday after months of fruitless talks aimed at ironing out a new three-year contract.

The buses, trolleys and trains of the fifth-largest U.S. urban transportation system remained at a near standstill, leaving more than 400,000 daily riders seeking other ways to get to work and school.

Lawyers for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) went to court in Delaware County to stop TWU pickets from blocking buses on its Victory Division suburban service. Suburban bus drivers reached their own contract with SEPTA earlier this year.

TWU Local 234 President Steve Brookens blamed SEPTA for insisting on changes that would undermine the union.

The union has voiced objections to proposed changes in the SEPTA workers’ compensation plan and in work rules that determine assignments and schedules. The TWU also has complained about SEPTA’s use of part-time labor.

But SEPTA spokesman Stephen Rosenfeld said the company only wants to hire 100 part-timers out of more than 5,000 employees.

When the TWU last struck, in 1995, the action lasted 15 days and permanently reduced SEPTA ridership by 5%.