Bus services on 31 routes around Phoenix might be reduced in the near future after the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433 voted Tuesday evening to reject the final offer of contractor Veolia Transportation Services.
In a statement on their website, union officials have asked Veolia to continue bargaining and instructed workers to report to their shifts Wednesday.
If Veolia refuses further bargaining, a strike may go into effect for the 31 bus routes covered by VTS.
It is one of three companies that provides bus service for the City of Phoenix on routes with high ridership, said Marie Chapple, spokeswoman of the Phoenix Public Transit Department.
Chapple said it is unknown if there will be a bus strike at this time, and the union has requested to meet with VTS.
A strike will primarily affect the Phoenix bus routes, Chapple said. A list of exact routes can be found at phoenix.gov/publictransit/strikeinfo.html.
VTS is contractually obligated to provide 60 percent of current services. This level of coverage is the same as the Sunday schedule, which can be found in the Transit Book for each route. There might be a period of time without service until the amount of coverage can be determined.
“The fact that they’re letting it happen again when they know that not just students but a large majority of the population relies on (public transit) to get around is ridiculous,” said Katherine Roye, a history and political science senior, referring to a similar dispute with Veolia in October 2010. “I think that while the bus unions have a legitimate dispute with them, I think they have to look at it as a whole and see how it’s affecting our entire community.”
Reach the reporter at sksmith9@asu.edu