Sun Tran workers on strike attended the Tucson City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2016.Listen:
The Tucson City Council voted Wednesday to tell its bus management company, Sun Tran, to end the 35-day-old driver strike as soon as possible. The council implored the company to use money it has saved during the strike to negotiate a salary agreement with the Teamsters Union.
The council voted 6-1 to encourage Sun Tran to use all the money it has available to end the strike. Council members said the bus system can use the wage and fuel savings that came from reducing the number of bus routes and hours of service during the strike.
The council disapproved of Sun Tran hiring temporary workers during the strike and said it is counter-productive to ending it.
Councilwoman Regina Romero made the motion and said she supported stronger language prohibiting Sun Tran from hiring any temporary workers during the strike. City Attorney Mike Rankin said Sun Tran is allowed to hire temporary workers to fulfill its obligation to keep buses running.
Councilman Steve Kozachik cast the dissenting vote, saying the Sun Tran contract requires it to operate all bus routes. The City Council sentiment to oppose temporary hiring is "internally inconsistent" with efforts to get the buses back to a normal schedule, Kozachik said.
Teamsters members and bus riders applauded and cheered the council vote, and said they hope it ends the strike soon.
Barbie Urias said the City Council effort to help end the strike was overdue.
"This should have never begun, and I’m thrilled that finally mayor and council are acting like leaders and trying to get this resolved," Urias said. "I think it should have been done before Labor Day weekend."
She said she was encouraged that the council wants to find long-term solutions to the strike and the Sun Tran budget.
"I hope and pray that they do get this resolved and may this never happen again," Urias said. "The bus is a necessary, important tool."
She said it has been difficult to work around the unpredictable bus schedule since the strike began Aug. 5.
"Tucson's Sun Tran was one of the best services in the nation," she said. "I want my service back."
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