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PlanPhilly reports:
With Election Day less than a week away and Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 234 still on strike, Democrats hoping for big voter turnout in Philadelphia are growing increasingly nervous.
“I’m worried,” a senior campaign staffer for Katie McGinty told PlanPhilly. McGinty currently holds a 5 point lead over incumbent Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, according to RealClearPolitics’ average of polls. Democrats are pinning their hopes of winning back control of the Senate in large part on unseating Toomey in Pennsylvania.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign is also concerned, said U.S. Rep. Bob Brady on Monday. Brady, who also chairs the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee, expressed his own concerns to reporters on Wednesday. “It’s on my mind. A lot,” said Brady. “[Democratic campaigns] should be concerned. I’m concerned.”
Brady added that he was hopeful that a deal would be made to end the strike before Election Day. Brady said he’s hoping for a 460,000-vote margin out of Philadelphia for Clinton and McGinty. In 2012, Barack Obama received 492,000 more votes in Philly than Mitt Romney.
Earlier on Wednesday, former Governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ed Rendell said that he was afraid of the strike’s adverse effects on Clinton’s campaign. “This will hold down the turnout in Philadelphia and the Philadelphia area,” said Rendell. “I guess that would be good for Donald Trump. Who knows?”
Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate reports:
Commuters braced for a third day of traffic gridlock in and around Philadelphia Thursday as SEPTA urged the union representing about 4,700 striking workers to engage in good-faith negotiations to bring an end to the walkout.
Talks broke down Wednesday night between the union and the transit agency. Both sides were expected to return to the bargaining table sometime on Thursday, but as of early Thursday morning no meeting had been scheduled.
SEPTA said in a statement late Wednesday that a strike should be “an option of last resort,” and criticized the union for refusing to consider new options during the negotiations.
“SEPTA negotiators have been working tirelessly to get a deal done, and we’re asking TWU leadership to do the same – for the sake of their members, and the people who rely on them every day to safely get them where they need to go,” said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon, Sr. The union had not issued a response as of early Thursday morning.
More from PlanPhilly:
Until Deon’s statement, SEPTA had mostly stuck to a hopeful tune throughout the settlement talks, whereas TWU adopted a more aggressive stance. But late Wednesday night, the two sides switched positions. “We’re beyond frustrated,” said Fran Kelly, SEPTA’s assistant general manager for government affairs. “We know there is an urgency here. We don’t have time.”
Kelly accused the union of prolonging the strike. A TWU representative called the allegations “ridiculous.” “To accuse us of not bargaining in good faith is disingenuous,” said the union rep. “I don’t know if they are overtired or what, but they are just in error,” he added. “There is bargaining still taking place.”
In the statement, SEPTA said they had largely acquiesced to the union’s primary demands. Pensions had seemed to be the most important issue. “They’re really talking about the pension piece,” said Rep. Brady. “That’s the real piece.” When asked Tuesday what the most important issues were in the negotiations, Philadelphia Deputy Mayor of Labor Richard Lazer replied “Pensions, pensions, pensions.”
(Tipped by JMG reader Paul)