💡 Get Philly smart 💡
with BP’s free daily newsletter
Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes — not that we’re counting.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has some harsh words for striking SEPTA workers: Time for this to end.
The first-term Democrat released a statement Sunday night saying he will file an amicus brief in support of an immediate injunction to end the strike that’s been filed by SEPTA. The transit authority asked a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge Friday to issue an injunction. That request was denied, and another hearing was set for first thing Monday morning.
Wolf said in a statement that it’s “clear” both sides have failed to come to an agreement and “the work stoppage has crippled” the city’s transportation system.
“It has become not only an issue that is impacting the ability of the elderly and individuals with disabilities to access care, and students to receive an education, but it is also one that has grave economic consequences for both the city and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Wolf said in the statement. He continued: “This strike has been devastating for so many individuals and their families and has created extreme hardships for the city and for businesses. The time for it to end is now.”
The city of Philadelphia also announced Sunday night it filed a motion in state court seeking an injunction to temporarily halt the SEPTA strike for Election Day. City Solicitor Sozi Pedro Tulante said in a statement that “The City has a legal responsibility to ensure that Philadelphians can exercise their constitutional right to vote.”
“Though there are extensive efforts to minimize the effect of any transit strike on Election Day, unquestionably, such an Election-Day strike will make it practically impossible for many Philadelphians to participate in this election,” he continued.
The city isn’t taking a position on the merits of SEPTA’s filing to end the strike entirely. Attorneys representing both SEPTA and TWU Local 234 will appear in court Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. as the strike heads into its seventh day.
