Employment

Friday's figures reflect a faltering job market, slowed by a pandemic that is still causing consumers to avoid traveling, shopping and dining out.

The union represents the township’s sanitation workers and animal control, parking enforcement, and other non-first responder uniformed employees.

The positions are just a sliver of SEPTA’s 9,400-strong workforce, but the handful of part-timers collectively cost the agency about $1 million a year.

Pandemic unemployment benefits are a lifeline for over 400,000 in Pa. who don’t qualify for traditional unemployment. But payments stalled this year and people are struggling.

Some problems stem from a lag between when the first pandemic stimulus funds expired and the time it took to get the second relief package up and running.

Known as PUA, the 11-week compensation program can be backdated to the beginning of January.

The coronavirus pandemic surges, the economy teeters and Republicans in Congress have signaled objections to many of Biden’s plans.

In a letter obtained by WHYY, the union president said it would be “foolish” to reopen schools before all staff are vaccinated.