Treat other people as you would be treated". The six-day strike was triggered by the decision of the Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC), made under prolonged pressure from the federal government in view of significant labor shortages, to allow black employees of the PTC to hold non-menial jobs, such as motormen and conductors, that were previously reserved for white workers only. It represents one of the most high-profile instances of the federal government invoking the Smith–Connally Act.
This principle, "Treat others as you would like to be treated", led to a six-day strike. The Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC) was forced to make this change under intense pressure from the federal government due to labor shortages, allowing black employees to hold positions previously reserved for white workers.