Phila. City Council Urges SEPTA, Worker's Union To Avoid Strike
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia's elected officials are getting more concerned about the possibility that a SEPTA strike could suppress election turnout.
On Thursday, city council passed a resolution urging both sides to resolve the contract quickly.
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Philadelphia is crucial to a democratic victory in Pennsylvania, so anything that keeps Philadelphians from getting to the polls could have an impact well beyond the city. And Councilman Darrell Clarke says a SEPTA strike would do just that:
"If you know the voting patterns in the city, there's an early morning rush and then after 5:00, so it will be significant and that's why we're all hoping this does not happen."
The resolution doesn't take sides. It urges management and labor to avert a strike.
"We've always had difficulty, on a good day, to be able to have enough support to move people to polling places," adds Clarke, "so if there is not public transportation we will clearly have a problem."
Clarke says council isn't getting directly involved in talks since he says several officials -- including democratic city committee chair, Congressman Bob Brady -- are already intervening.
The current contract expires one week before the election.