Many parts of the East Valley’s bus service remained disrupted Tuesday, with some routes cut back to hourly service or cancelled in the wake of a drivers’ strike.
The strike’s impact changed throughout the day as replacement drivers were brought in, said Sue Taaffe, a Tempe spokeswoman. Still, 50 Valley Metro routes were affected Valleywide.
The strike began late Saturday as negotiations between Tempe and Phoenix drivers with Veolia Transportation Services broke down, and union drivers began a work stoppage. The two sides resumed talks resumed Tuesday afternoon.
Until a resolution is reached, Veolia will replace striking drivers with employees from its other markets, Taafee said.
“They’re just trying to get as many people in and trained as they can,” she said. “Our hope is that it gets better each day.”
Bus service in part of Tempe had been as low as 16 percent of its normal capacity early Monday, but it improved to about 55 percent citywide on Tuesday. Some Phoenix routes were cancelled, and some operate on delays of 40 minutes to four hours.
Valley Metro is asking transit users to get updated information at www.valleymetro.org. The transit agency’s phone lines have been flooded with calls, Taaffe said. The average time it takes to assist callers has risen from two minutes to five minutes as operators provide information.
Valley Metro hasn’t posted signs at affected bus stops because the strike’s impact isn’t known until each shift begins, and transit officials then learn how many union drivers are taking part in the strike.
The strike is primarily affecting routes in Tempe and Phoenix, with some impact as routes from those cities enter Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert.
The strike led to the cancelation of Orbit routes in Tempe, though Orbit Earth was restored Tuesday. Also, the FLASH shuttle in downtown was restored Tuesday.
There is no service for East Valley Express routes 520 and 521. Many routes run on Sunday schedules, including Mill Avenue/Kyrene Road, McClintock Drive, Baseline Road and Elliot Road.
The strike does not affect Metro light rail, Southern Avenue, Broadway Road, University Drive or Apache Boulevard in Tempe.
The strike is the result of a labor dispute dating to June 2011, when the collective bargaining agreement expired between Veolia and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433. The union first threatened to strike March 2, but called the strike Saturday after talks broke down over union allegations of unfair labor practices and demands for improved pay and benefits.
It’s unclear when the strike will end. A complaint filed by the National Labor Relations Board will be heard by a judge on April 3.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6548 or ggroff@evtrib.com
Juggernaut8000 posted at 3:34 pm on Mon, Mar 12, 2012.
So the three people who ride these abominations will have to walk to the circle K now?
hamguy posted at 4:50 pm on Mon, Mar 12, 2012.
The blessing and the curse of unions on display. A request for increased pay and benefits at a time like this is uncalled for. The union leaders will be the greatest beneficiarys of this while those who most need the service will be the losers. Watch how much the fares go up. I think it's time to put the contract out for a new bid.
samkat posted at 6:23 pm on Mon, Mar 12, 2012.
Fire all of the drivers and allow them to compete for their jobs along with all of the other applicants who will apply.
dryheat posted at 10:43 pm on Mon, Mar 12, 2012.
They just had a successful strike a year ago that they conceded too. Now they are striking again? Pretty ridiculous. Google can't finish up their automated vehicles soon enough.
Bingo6 posted at 5:14 am on Tue, Mar 13, 2012.
Sorry, dryheat, there was NO strike a year ago, Phoenix drivers have been working without a contract for 20 months .
Major issues are not wages, but maintaining and keeping what they already have. Veolia, on the other hand, is trying to shake down, the city for more money to support the contract that Veolia underbid in the first place, so they are using the drivers as tools for their French owners.
Samkat, you feel qualified to pass CDL class B, knock yourself out, then join the lowest lifeforms in America, SCABS , then show us how great a what a real guy you are, when you cross a working person's picket line.
Bingo6 posted at 5:33 am on Tue, Mar 13, 2012.
Oh, by the way all routes out of the Veolia/ RPTA, yard. (Greenfield RD, Mesa) are still running a full schedule. At least until we vote on our new contract, including routes to Phoenix, RT 61 (Southern Ave to 43rd Ave in Phoenix, RT 30 University DR to baseline and 24th ST SMCC, and RT 45 Broadway RD to 19th Ave)
Then consider this, all our drivers (in the East Valley) make much less than Phoenix and Tempe in wages, sick leave, holiday pay, and benefits, we would be really grateful for some semblance of parity in our situation, but rest assured, if Veolia, bullies us like our brothers and sisters in Phoenix and Tempe, then we walk also.
scoottr posted at 9:34 am on Tue, Mar 13, 2012.
This article should have what the salary for a bus driver is so that we can form an opinion of whether we feel a strike over pay and benefits is warranted.
Should be public record since they work for the city.
Maybe comparatively it is a really good or bad; but don't tout one side of a story without all the information presented
VofReason posted at 12:44 pm on Tue, Mar 13, 2012.
Yes, they should trot out the benefits they are trying to hold onto. Though then public sentiment will overwhelmingly be against the union. I hope they do open up to applicants for people that don't have jobs and go non union. Unions over appreciate the value of most labor they represent- look at the car makers that come to the government hat in hand every 10 years or so. Also, let's not demune what it takes to get a CDL and opperate a bus safely, but let's also no act like it is nuclear fusion.....
dryheat posted at 7:48 am on Wed, Mar 14, 2012.
@bingo6
I forgot that they didn't actually strike, just threatened to strike. The city conceded last year to the union demands.
2011-
"The union is asking members to keep showing up for work now, but is telling bus drivers to come to a meeting this weekend for possible instructions on a work stoppage."""Our current Best and Final offer protects current wages and includes, additional vacation time, and holidays, and 60 paid sick days per year," Michael said."