SEPTA Strike Scheduled
Sunday October 25, 2009
SEPTA employees have been working without a contract since March. After several months of negotiations with management, SEPTA's largest union, Transport Workers Union Local 234, voted earlier today to authorize a strike if a contract cannot be reached by the end of the week - meaning that the strike would begin just as the Phillies start playing home World Series games. Yikes.
How your commute may (or may not) be affected:
- First of all, remember that a strike isn't guaranteed: SEPTA employees are only striking at the end of the week if a contract isn't reached by then. Talks are scheduled to begin again on Monday.
- If a strike does occur, SEPTA subway lines, trolleys and busses will be affected. Regional Rail will still run since its trains are operated by a separate union. NJ Transit and the PATCO will also be unaffected.
- During the last SEPTA strike in 2005, the city made 2,200 additional parking spaces available for the duration of the strike. No word yet about whether they might do the same thing this time. Either way, if you'll need to drive to work in Philadelphia, consider making carpooling plans.
UPDATE: As of 3 a.m. on November 3, a SEPTA strike is in effect. For more information about the history of SEPTA strikes and what to do during the strike, visit the SEPTA strikes page or my blog post about biking during the 2009 SEPTA strike.
Comments
Fire every one of them. There would be a line with twice the amount of people needed to replace them in this economy. There are people who can’t buy groceries due to unemployment that would gladly work for the wages they would be offered. These unions have an unrealistic and unwarranted sense of entitlement.
the were not talking til this week. no talks between march and oct. things will get settled that way huh”
Brad if you were in a union you probably wouldn’t be unemployed…..or you don’t drive……its a union for godsakes..grow up.
Jo-Ann: You grow up. If they strike, I’m going to lose my job most likely. Our city will be a wreck, and it’s already broke.
SEPTA has the best insurance in the city, excellent wages, and they treat most of their riders like dirt.
Brad didn’t say he was unemployed. He is absolutely correct.
please do not strike this will effect our families and your families , we can not always get what we ask for,life is to short to come to this ,we are always saying it’s for the children,let’s keep this in mind,our children are our life,thir education lies in our hands,don’t let them miss out because of money.
WELL EVERYONE HAS WHAT THINK IS REAL ABOUT THE WHOLE SEPTA STRIKE BUT I ONLY FEEL A FEW OF YOU ON THIS SUBJECT JO-ANN KNOWS WHAT SHE’S TALKING ABOUT CAUSE THE RIDER’S DO’NT WANT TO STRIKE IT’S THE UNION IF YOU EVER BEEN PART OF ONE YOU WILL KNOW WHAT THEY SAY GO’S MY SISTER WORK’S FOR SEPTA AND JUST LIKE YOU SHE HAS BILL’S TO PAY AND DON’T NEED THIS STRIKE AND BRAD IS RIGHT AS WELL THE UNION HAS THIS UNREALISTIC SINCE IN THE ECONOMY BUT THEY ALSO HAVE NOT HAD A CONTRACT IN MONTHS SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW AS WELL.