The Sun Tran strike is on as of midnight, as drivers and mechanics failed to come to a contract agreement.
For passengers, Sun Tran will be offering limited service Thursday from 6 a.m.to 6 p.m. on routes 3, 8, 11, 16 and 18.
Those routes are:
Route 3 - 6th St./Wilmot
Route 8 – Broadway
Route 11 – Alvernon
Route 16 – Oracle/Ina
Route 18 – South 6th Avenue
Streetcar, Sun Van, Sun Shuttle, paratransit services and some outlying-area shuttle services are not affected.
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“I’m disappointed that we couldn’t come to an agreement. We believe the offer we had on the table was a fair offer and we’re available to continue talking with the negotiating committee should they choose,” said Sun Tran General Manager Kate Riley in a news release. “We recognize how important transit service is to our community, so limited weekday service will be provided during the work stoppage for passenger convenience.”
Teamsters Local Union 104 has filed a complaint against Professional Transit Management, Inc. claiming unfair labor practices, a news release from the union says.
It says San Tran made a final offer in the middle of ongoing negotiations then made no effort to amend the final offer during the three-day extension that ended at midnight Wednesday.
The union says a major issue that needs to be resolved involves driver safety. It cited 22 assaults, including a stabbing, that occurred over the past 13 months.
The union also says Sun Tran did not use some $2.2 million in approved money for wages and benefits, returning it instead to the city's general fund, the release today said.
The union also cited health concerns over mold at one of San Tran's facilities.
Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik said the city and union failed to agree on revenue enhancements proposed in recent years that would have prevented a strike.
"You cannot continue to say no to new revenue sources and then act surprised during contract negotiations when the management team has nothing to offer," Kozachik said.
He noted the city council rejected recommendations made a few years ago under former City Manager Richard Miranda that would have provided $2.4 million in new revenue through fare increases and another $2.4 million in route adjustments.
"There was nearly $5 million we said no to and now they're on strike," he said.
Union and Sun Tran officials reached a last-minute deal last year to avoid a strike and interruption of bus services.
Sun Tran workers went on strike in 1997 and again in 2001. The 2001 strike lasted nearly two weeks until a federal negotiator helped reach an agreement.
