Workers strike at produce center in S. Phila

Workers went on strike this morning at the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market in a contract dispute.

The members of Teamsters Local 929 prevented vehicles from entering the South Philadelphia facility after walking off the job at 12:01 a.m., but the blockade ended this morning after union officials were served a court injunction limiting the number of pickets to two, according to TV news reports.

Overtime and management's efforts to get workers to make health and welfare contributions are at the center of the dispute.

The market, which supplies produce to restaurants and retailers throughout the region, is to move to a new, $218.5 million facility on Essington Avenue later this year.