Both Sides Ask Mediator's Help in Tucson's Bus Strike

Both sides in Tucson's 9-day-old municipal bus strike have been in touch with a federal mediator in hopes of resuming negotiations.

Teamsters Union Local 104 and Sun Tran's management issued press releases saying they were in communication with the mediator.

The Teamsters' statement reiterated the claim that management was negotiating in bad faith, because the offer it was putting forth was the same as that rejected overwhelmingly by union members nearly two weeks ago.

"The Teamsters were contacted by Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services today (Friday) who informed them that Sun Tran had contacted the mediator with a response to the Teamster’s comprehensive proposal which was presented to Sun Tran by the mediator yesterday afternoon," the union press release said.

It went on to say that Sun Tran's rejection of a union proposal presented through the mediator Thursday "clearly demonstrates that they have no desire or intention of settling this strike any tkime soon."

Sun Tran, run under contract with the city of Tucson by Professional Transit Management, issued a statement that did not comment on the Teamsters' proposal.

“Sun Tran has been working with the federal mediator to schedule a meeting to continue negotiations, which has not been successful thus far,”General Manager Katie Riley was quoted as saying.

Workers say they want raises, after having their wages frozen for several years. They also have sought resolution of what they say are problems with bus driver safety and mold at a northwest side bus maintenance center.

Sun Tran has said the raises and benefits the Teamsters are seeking would cost Tucson taxpayers $20.3 million in subsidies over three years.

The bus system has been running eight of its 43 routes on a limited schedule Monday through Friday. Ridership figures released by Sun Tran Thursday showed the daily trip load down 79 percent from what it was before the strike.