Vol.62/No.28 July 28, 1998
1,000 rally to back Philadelphia transit strikers
"Being able to stay out for the long haul is key,"
Transport Workers Union (TWU) striker Johnny Carter told the
Militant. One thousand workers rallied here July 7 in
support of the TWU workers. The strike has shut down bus,
trolley, and subway service for 435,000 passengers by the
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transport Authority (SEPTA). At
the event unionists cheered for workers in Puerto Rico out
on strike in solidarity with the telephone workers. Talks
resumed later that day but with "no progress." The TWU rally
and the announcement of a food bank were initiated in
response to a ferocious campaign launched against the union
by the big-business media and politicians. Strikers appear
unfazed by SEPTA's intransigence and the possibility this
may force the strike to last even longer. Striker Larry
Spann, a bus operator for 20 years, said, "It's the same at
General Motors, if they lose, every auto union's going to go
down." Donations can be dropped off at 2233 Spring Garden
Street from 5:00 a.m. to midnight. For more information,
call: (215) 972-4140.
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