Buses, subways halted by Philly transit strike

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Philadelphia transit system's largest union went on strike early Tuesday, stalling the city's bus, subway and trolley operations a day after the World Series shifted to New York and forcing thousands of commuters to find other ways to get to work.

The strike by Transport Workers Union Local 234 all but crippled a transit system that averages more than 928,000 trips each weekday. The union represents more than 5,000 drivers, operators and mechanics of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.

"We don't deserve to wake up at 3 o'clock in the morning to find out if there's a strike," said Jeffrey Chandler, 49, who had to call a friend for a ride to SEPTA's regional rail line so he could get to his job as a hotel room attendant.

The union had threatened to go on strike during the World Series. But over the weekend Gov. Ed Rendell ordered the union and SEPTA to remain at the bargaining table or risk consequences.

Willie Brown, the local's president, said they decided to strike after both sides agreed that they had gone as far as they could in negotiations over salary, pension and health care issues. No new negotiations were scheduled Tuesday.

"We're very anxious to get back to the bargaining table ASAP," SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said. "We haven't heard back from them."

Messages left with the union by The Associated Press seeking further comment on the negotiations were not immediately returned.

The strike announcement came just hours after thousands of fans took the subway home after seeing the Phillies beat the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series, the last game to be played at Citizens Bank Park this season. Brown said the strike was effective as of 3 a.m. Tuesday.

The doors to subway stations were gated off Tuesday and no buses crawled the streets in the city's downtown corridor.