Brenna Goth

The Republic | azcentral.com

Phoenix bus routes could be affected by work negotiations between the contractor and union

First Transit, Inc., operates 14 routes in the city. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433

Union transportation workers are voting on a final contract offer on Monday and Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of bus riders who use some of Phoenix's most-traveled routes could soon face delays if union drivers cannot reach a contract agreement with the city's service provider.

Transportation workers represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433 will vote Monday and Tuesday on a final contract offer from First Transit, Inc. The company operates 14 Phoenix local bus routes under the Valley Metro brand.

The Phoenix Public Transit Department is warning riders of possible service disruptions if the company and employees can't reach a compromise. Services are currently running as normal, the department said.

If workers strike, busy bus routes including those running down Thomas and Indian School roads could be affected.

Phoenix buses run by First Transit were boarded 14 million times in the last fiscal year, according to Public Transit Department spokeswoman Nikki Hicks.

First Transit and union workers have been negotiating the contract since collective-bargaining agreements expired at the end of June.

On its website, the union calls the best-and-final contract offer that was given to its bargaining committee earlier this month beneficial for corporate profits but detrimental to the income and lives of employees. The increasing cost of the company's insurance plan was one specific complaint.

The union is calling for "a huge rejection of this poor deal" and recommends that members "authorize the president to call a strike if we cannot fix the issues after we meet again with management," its website says.

First Transit said in a written statement to The Arizona Republic that it believes the offer is fair and hopes it "will be endorsed when a vote is taken."

Light-rail service and buses in others parts of the Valley run under separate contracts and will not be affected by the negotiations, said Susan Tierney, spokeswoman for Valley Metro. Phoenix bus routes under other contractors would also run normally in the case of a strike, Hicks said.

Still, cities such as Tempe are preparing to tell their riders about the negotiations for those who connect to Phoenix services, said Tempe spokeswoman Amanda Nelson. Service interruptions in one part of the Valley do "disrupt the system," Tierney said.

"It does affect the system in the sense of transfers," she said.

The Phoenix Public Transit Department will be providing riders with service updates on its website at phoenix.gov/publictransit and on its Twitter account.

"Our concern is just making sure they're aware of what's going on," Hicks said.

Union bus drivers in the Southeast Valley went on strike for multiple days in 2013 after the union could not come to an agreement with First Transit. Tens of thousands of residents were left without bus service until the groups negotiated a contract.

Potentially affected routes

3: Van Buren

13: Buckeye

17: McDowell Road

29: Thomas Road

41: Indian School

43: 43rd Avenue

51: 51st Avenue

59: 59th Avenue

67: 67th Avenue

75: 75th Avenue

83: 83rd Avenue

19C: Phoenix Neighborhood Circulator

GAL: Grand Avenue Limited

MARY: Phoenix Neighborhood Circulator

Source: Phoenix Public Transit Department and Valley Metro