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| Philadelphia Transit Strike Strands Thousands | Philadelphia Transit Strike Strands Thousands |
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| PHILADELPHIA — Transit workers here went on strike Tuesday, halting bus, trolley and subway service, and forcing hundreds of thousands of people onto packed commuter trains and roads to get to work or school. | |
| The strike by about 4,700 workers of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority shut down transit lines that normally provide nearly a million rides each weekday. | The strike by about 4,700 workers of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority shut down transit lines that normally provide nearly a million rides each weekday. |
| As arduous as the morning rush was, the evening commute became even more challenging as picketers blocked employees’ access to their work assignments for Regional Rail service. That service, which was not part of the work stoppage, caused a “significant” number of trains to be canceled or disrupted, the authority said. | |
| The authority’s regional rail service — the commuter lines that extend from the city into the suburbs — continued operating, providing an alternative in some parts of the city for riders who would usually take buses or subways. | The authority’s regional rail service — the commuter lines that extend from the city into the suburbs — continued operating, providing an alternative in some parts of the city for riders who would usually take buses or subways. |
| But conditions worsened for the afternoon rush, when the transportation authority canceled dozens of scheduled commuter trains with missing crews. The agency said that picketing transit workers had prevented crew members from reaching their trains, and urged people who had been counting on the regional rail system to find other ways of getting home. | But conditions worsened for the afternoon rush, when the transportation authority canceled dozens of scheduled commuter trains with missing crews. The agency said that picketing transit workers had prevented crew members from reaching their trains, and urged people who had been counting on the regional rail system to find other ways of getting home. |
| Thousands of people stood in long lines at Center City regional rail stations, unsure how long they would have to wait to catch trains home. Employees held most commuters on the concourse levels of the stations to prevent dangerous overcrowding on the platforms below. | Thousands of people stood in long lines at Center City regional rail stations, unsure how long they would have to wait to catch trains home. Employees held most commuters on the concourse levels of the stations to prevent dangerous overcrowding on the platforms below. |
| Commuters were packed shoulder-to-shoulder on the trains that did run, some of them an hour behind schedule or more. . The commuter trains accepted transit passes, and express trains made local stops to take on and discharge more passengers. | Commuters were packed shoulder-to-shoulder on the trains that did run, some of them an hour behind schedule or more. . The commuter trains accepted transit passes, and express trains made local stops to take on and discharge more passengers. |
| Transit officials said they would go to court seeking an injunction to prevent striking workers from interfering with those who are not on strike. | Transit officials said they would go to court seeking an injunction to prevent striking workers from interfering with those who are not on strike. |
| Even without the cancellations, the regional rail service, which normally provides 130,000 rides a weekday, could absorb only a fraction of the overflow. | Even without the cancellations, the regional rail service, which normally provides 130,000 rides a weekday, could absorb only a fraction of the overflow. |
| Members of Transport Workers Union Local 234 had voted to go on strike at 12:01 a.m., when their contract expired, if a new contract settlement was not reached, and negotiations on Monday failed to produce an agreement. The union last walked out in 2009, in a strike lasting six days. | Members of Transport Workers Union Local 234 had voted to go on strike at 12:01 a.m., when their contract expired, if a new contract settlement was not reached, and negotiations on Monday failed to produce an agreement. The union last walked out in 2009, in a strike lasting six days. |
| “Despite months of constructive and innovative proposals from our side of the table, management has refused to budge on key issues, including safety issues that would save lives and not cost Septa a dime,” said Willie Brown, the local president. He said the two sides remained far apart on pension and health care issues, as well as scheduling and driver fatigue. | “Despite months of constructive and innovative proposals from our side of the table, management has refused to budge on key issues, including safety issues that would save lives and not cost Septa a dime,” said Willie Brown, the local president. He said the two sides remained far apart on pension and health care issues, as well as scheduling and driver fatigue. |
| Andrew Busch, a spokesman for the authority, released a statement saying, “Mr. Brown walked away from a contract offer that would have provided his members pay raises, enhanced pension benefits, maintained health care coverage levels and continued job security, while also remaining fair and affordable for the taxpayers and riders who fund Septa.” | Andrew Busch, a spokesman for the authority, released a statement saying, “Mr. Brown walked away from a contract offer that would have provided his members pay raises, enhanced pension benefits, maintained health care coverage levels and continued job security, while also remaining fair and affordable for the taxpayers and riders who fund Septa.” |
| Transit officials said they were hopeful that a tentative agreement would be reached before Election Day, next Tuesday, and urged the union to return to negotiations. If not, the agency said in a statement, it will go to court to ask for an injunction ordering employees back to work for that day, “to ensure that the strike does not prevent any voters from getting to the polls and exercising their right to vote.” | Transit officials said they were hopeful that a tentative agreement would be reached before Election Day, next Tuesday, and urged the union to return to negotiations. If not, the agency said in a statement, it will go to court to ask for an injunction ordering employees back to work for that day, “to ensure that the strike does not prevent any voters from getting to the polls and exercising their right to vote.” |
| Mike Locasale, a commuter who usually takes the Market-Frankford subway line, took a regional train instead on Tuesday morning, and said he was half an hour late for work. Rushing through the Art Deco Suburban Station in Center City, he said he planned to start out 30 minutes early on Wednesday and call for an Uber driver “to beat some of the traffic.” | Mike Locasale, a commuter who usually takes the Market-Frankford subway line, took a regional train instead on Tuesday morning, and said he was half an hour late for work. Rushing through the Art Deco Suburban Station in Center City, he said he planned to start out 30 minutes early on Wednesday and call for an Uber driver “to beat some of the traffic.” |
| Craig Chaney, 68, usually walks half a block to catch a bus to go to his medical checkups. Instead, “I had to walk about 10 blocks” to get to a regional rail station, he said, “which is bad, because I’ve had about three heart operations and I have to see doctors.” He left himself plenty of time, though, arriving at Suburban Station two hours early. | Craig Chaney, 68, usually walks half a block to catch a bus to go to his medical checkups. Instead, “I had to walk about 10 blocks” to get to a regional rail station, he said, “which is bad, because I’ve had about three heart operations and I have to see doctors.” He left himself plenty of time, though, arriving at Suburban Station two hours early. |
| Bundled in a knit cap and white scarf, Brianna Pope-McBride stood in 41-degree weather at the Tulpehocken regional rail station of the Chestnut Hill West Line, waiting for a train that was running late. Asked if she would be late for work, she laughed and said, “Probably.” | Bundled in a knit cap and white scarf, Brianna Pope-McBride stood in 41-degree weather at the Tulpehocken regional rail station of the Chestnut Hill West Line, waiting for a train that was running late. Asked if she would be late for work, she laughed and said, “Probably.” |
| Ms. Pope-McBride said she felt sorry for residents of South Philadelphia, where there are no regional rail stops. | Ms. Pope-McBride said she felt sorry for residents of South Philadelphia, where there are no regional rail stops. |
| Mayor Jim Kenney urged “both Septa and the Transport Workers Union to maintain communication despite the work stoppage.” | Mayor Jim Kenney urged “both Septa and the Transport Workers Union to maintain communication despite the work stoppage.” |
| “Tens of thousands of Philadelphians rely on the buses, trolleys and subways,” Mr. Kenney said, “so it is vital for everyone that this situation be resolved as quickly as possible.” | “Tens of thousands of Philadelphians rely on the buses, trolleys and subways,” Mr. Kenney said, “so it is vital for everyone that this situation be resolved as quickly as possible.” |