Philadelphia transit police go on strike

Police officers with the Philadelphia-area mass transit agency walked off the job Wednesday afternoon after working for almost a year with no contract. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority said private security guards would be on duty Thursday, WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, reported. City police officers will patrol some crime hot spots during the afternoon and early evening. SEPTA operates buses and commuter trains in the city and its suburbs and subway and trolley lines in Philadelphia. The Fraternal Order of Transit Police, Local 30, said contract talks broke down at about 1:30 p.m. The union immediately summoned officers to headquarters for picket assignments and scheduled a late-afternoon rally. Sources in the SEPTA police said the major sticking point is pay increases for officers who get training certification. "At no time did we want to have to go on strike, but SEPTA forced our hand to do what we had to do right now," said Rich Neal, a union leader.