The contract dispute between Veolia Transportation Services and the Teamsters’ Local 104 doesn’t sound like it’s all hugs and grins. From what we understand, roughly 1/3 of the routes Veolia operates could be in jeopardy. If you ride a bus to get to work or connect to the light rail, you might want to follow updates about the possible strike on the Valley METRO site to get the scoop.
According to a City of Phoenix web site, “Veolia Transportation Services has informed the Public Transit Department that the company will lockout the Teamsters’ Local 104 union (maintenance staff) pending a contract agreement. This means beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday, October 4, the 50 Veolia employees in the Teamsters union will not be allowed to work. The lockout is considered a work stoppage and not a strike; it has been initiated by Veolia.”
As reported by KJZZ and by AZ central today, the Phoenix bus system has locked out the Teamsters.
“If the Teamsters, representing employees who fuel, clean and maintain buses, put up picket lines in response to the lockout, bus mechanics and drivers represented by two other unions could also stop working to honor the lines.” AZ Central
If you rely on the DASH system in Downtown Phoenix, you might want to make other plans as well. Again, please watch the Valley Metro site for updates.
The links above are from information I found this evening and are subject to change. Another source of information would be to follow Valley Metro RPTA on Twitter for their updates.
Please contact Valley Metro for questions. If you know of people that rely on the bus or on the DASH service, please feel free to forward this information to them or have them contact Metro with their questions.
For people that ride the METRO light rail, your service should not change or be interrupted.
*Please note: RailLife.com is NOT associated with METRO, Valley Metro RPTA or anyone else associated with this squabble. *
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