Philly Commuters Relieved But Angry As Strike Ends

JOANN LOVIGLIO

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Life began returning to normal Monday for commuters who spent the previous work week frazzled from a public transit strike, and many expressed relief that buses and trains were running again but remained angry about the transit workers' walkout.

"Regular working people, poor people, that's who they hurt. Senior citizens like me who couldn't get to the doctor, that's who they hurt," said Mattie Herman, 69, as she waited for a bus to a doctor's appointment she had to cancel last week. "It never had to come to that."

A preliminary deal announced late Friday fell apart Saturday over the union's demand for an independent audit of the pension fund and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's desire for permission to reopen the contract if national health care overhaul were to increase costs.

On Monday, Gov. Ed Rendell, who helped lead negotiations, said the audit "became a non-issue" because the union's two representatives on the pension fund's advisory board could call for an audit. The governor said the health care cost issue had been resolved, and additional dental benefits had been included in the package.