PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Latest on the Philadelphia transit strike (all times local):
7:35 p.m.
A judge has delayed a ruling on whether to end a strike by transit workers in Philadelphia.
The judge will take additional testimony on Monday.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority went to court to force employees back to work, saying the walkout threatens public safety and will interfere with voting on Election Day.
The transit union says it will fight SEPTA “tooth and nail.”
The union’s 4,700 workers walked off the job after midnight Monday, shutting down transit service that provides about 900,000 rides a day. Pensions, work rules and health care costs are among the issues on the bargaining table.
Commuters have been dealing with clogged roads, jumping on bikes and organizing carpools.
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5:15 p.m.
Philadelphia’s striking transit union says it will fight “tooth and nail” a bid by management to get a judge to force its employees back to work.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority late Friday filed a request for a court injunction to bring an end to the walkout, which began Tuesday.
SEPTA says the strike is threatening public safety and will interfere with voting on Election Day.
Transport Workers Union local president Willie Brown says the focus should be on reaching a contract agreement. He says “only a handful of issues separate the parties.”
Brown calls SEPTA’s efforts to win an injunction a “pointless attempt to restrict workers’ rights.”
The strike has shut down buses, trolleys and subways that provide about 900,000 rides a day in Philadelphia, including to more than 50,000 schoolchildren.
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3:30 p.m.
Transit officials in Philadelphia have asked a court to end a four-day strike on grounds the disruption threatens the public’s health and safety.
A transit system spokesman says a judge could weigh the injunction request later Friday.
Commuters have been dealing with clogged roads, jumping on bikes and organizing carpools across the city.
Transit workers hit the picket lines again Friday morning while negotiations continued.
On Thursday, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority asked for assurances from the union that it would suspend its walkout on Election Day if no contract agreement is reached by then.
The Transport Workers Union local did not immediately respond to Friday’s injunction request.
The union’s 4,700 workers walked off the job after midnight Monday, shutting down transit service that provides about 900,000 rides a day.
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7:40 a.m.
Commuters are hitting clogged roads, jumping on bikes and organizing carpools as the Philadelphia’s transit strike enters Day 4.
Transit workers hit the picket lines again Friday morning as no contract agreement was reached overnight.
On Thursday, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority asked for assurances from the city’s striking transit union that it will suspend its walkout on Election Day if no contract agreement is reached by then.
The agency says it will go to court to try to force transit employees to work on Nov. 8.
The head of the Transport Workers Union local says SEPTA should focus instead on reaching a settlement.
The union’s 4,700 workers walked off the job after midnight Monday, shutting down transit service that provides about 900,000 rides a day.
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