SEPTA: Strike-related picketers causing Regional Rail disruptions
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- SEPTA officials say picketers are causing service disruptions for the Regional Rail lines, one of the only services still operating amid a strike by union workers.
This statement was just released:
"Due to TWU strike-related pickets at Regional Rail facilities, SEPTA will have to cancel a significant number of trains during the evening rush hour. We are recommending passengers seek alternative modes of travel. SEPTA will post a full list of cancelled trains on http://www.septa.org and on Twitter.
The pickets are blocking access to some facilities where Regional Rail train crews report to work. SEPTA is seeking a court injunction that will allow Regional Rail employees to report to their assigned work locations.
Updates will be provided as soon as more information is available."
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Many commuters were left scrambling Tuesday morning to find a way to work, and many students in need of a ride to school, as union SEPTA workers went on strike.
The union, representing more than 5,000 SEPTA workers, announced the walkout at 12:01 a.m.
The strike means many SEPTA buses, trolleys and subways that provide about 900,000 rides a day are no longer operating.
The strike does not affect commuter rail lines and service in areas outside the city, including Regional Rail.
The School District of Philadelphia said classes were still in session despite the strike.
What SEPTA Service Is Running?
- Regional Rail: The only option for train travel in and around Philadelphia
- Norristown High Speed Line
- Suburban Bus, Trolley Routes 101 & 102
- LUCY (Loop through University City), Route 310 (Horsham Breeze), Routes 204, 205, and Cornwells Heights Parking Shuttle
- CCT Connect: Regular service will operate for, registered ADA and Shared Ride customers. There may be some delays due to increased demand and local street traffic
What SEPTA Service Is Not Running?
- City Bus Routes (This includes Route 78, Cornwells Heights to Center City Express)
- Market Frankford Line
- Broad Street & Broad Ridge Spur Lines
- Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 15, 34, and 36
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Parking Authority has modified rates and enforcement.
RELATED: Strike contingency plans for city workers, schools, hospitals and more at 6abc.com/SEPTAStrike
"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 TWU Local 234 President Willie Brown, who heads the union's negotiating team. "There is no new agreement, so we are on strike."
Instead of reporting for their shifts at SEPTA, union workers reported for picket duty Tuesday morning.
Brown said the union would remain at the bargaining table. He added he shared the concern many have expressed about people not being able to the polls on Election Day should the strike continue.
SEPTA expressed its disappointment in the decision in a statement released shortly after the strike was announced.
"The decision by TWU President Willie Brown leaves thousands of SEPTA customers without the transit services they rely on for travel to and from work, school and medical appointments," said SEPTA, adding that it remained "ready and willing" to continue bargaining.
Brown said the two sides remain far apart on pension and health care issues as well as non-economic issues such as shift scheduling, break time and other measures that affect driver fatigue.
SEPTA said it is hopeful that a tentative agreement will be reached before Election Day.
"If we foresee an agreement will not come to pass, SEPTA intends to seek to enjoin the strike for November 8th to ensure that the strike does not prevent any voters from getting to the polls and exercising their right to vote," SEPTA said.
Ongoing talks at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel in Center City, which went on through the weekend, had been described as tense.
The two sides are said to be miles apart on the issues, including healthcare, pensions and work rules.
An inside source says it all comes down to pensions. Apparently management gets a pension on full pay, while union workers get a pension on partial pay.
Our source says it's the issue that's make or break.
Both the governor and the city's mayor expressed their concern.
"This would be a serious thing if it happens and it lasted through Election Day, but I'm thinking of the hundreds of thousand of commuters. People who depend on mass transit for all kinds of things just to live," Gov. Tom Wolf (D-Pa.).
"Certainly a supporter of unionism, but people need to get to work and need to get where they're going," said Mayor Jim Kenney (D-Philadelphia). "It disrupts everybody's lives - students, workers, everybody."
SEPTA workers last went on strike in 2009. That strike lasted six days.
SEPTA has long urged customers to think of a back-up plan - much easier said than done.
"I would be forced to do whatever I have to do. But a lot of times as grown people we don't like to be forced to do anything," said Artie Long of Fern Rock.
Some of SEPTA's 400,000 riders are choosing to go with ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.
"I gotta pay $10 to Uber, $15 depending on how far I'm going," said Glasgow.
Others are opting to carpool.
"I'm going to walk and meet a ride, one of my coworkers, as close as I can. I have to go to work," said Tracy Kennedy of Fern Rock.
Though for one high school senior, carpooling means compromises. She's one of 60,00 students who depend on SEPTA.
"I have extracurriculars, too, and that's after hours and that means I probably have to stop doing that," said Joanna Jiang of Fern Rock.
