Last night, something close to a disaster struck Philadelphia.
No, it wasn’t the Phillies — they’re still in the series. But, in all seriousness, SEPTA’s announcement that, as of this morning, its workers are on strike, is a crippling blow to the city.
SEPTA almost went on strike Sunday, which would have dramatically affected Game 4 of the series. Had that happened, it’s not an exaggeration to say there probably would have been riots in the streets, and not the kind we’re looking forward to later this week. Luckily, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell (both huge baseball fans) stepped in to negotiate a last-minute deal to prevent the workers, who have been without a contract since March, from striking until today. The two will likely go down as the unsung heroes of the series.
While we’re pleased that the strike was delayed until the series headed back to the Bronx, nearly 1 million people ride SEPTA daily, and this strike will effectively slow the city to a crawl.
Time are tough all around, from both SEPTA’s perspective and that of the workers. And the contract disputes precipitating the strike revolved around health insurance, an extremely serious issue in today’s political and economic climate. But a public-transit strike will cut deep into the heart of Philadelphia, making it impossible for many to get to school or work. We’re disappointed that this strike is occurring, and hopes it wraps up quickly — for the sake of workers, who have been working without a contract for months, for management, who has been negotiating for months, and for Philly, which might ultimately suffer the most.
