Bus drivers went on strike Sunday, leaving about 110,000 people who depend on the mass transit system each workweek without a ride for Monday morning.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local rejected the Phoenix Transit System’s latest contract Saturday. A walkout shuts down 45 bus routes, mainly in Phoenix and Scottsdale.
“There are no negotiation meetings scheduled at this point,” Abbie Fink, a spokeswoman for Phoenix Transit, said Sunday. The Phoenix Transit System is a private firm that runs the bus service for the city and surrounding metropolitan area.
The union was satisfied with management’s offer of a 25 percent pay hike over five years, said Fran Mullenix, union president. Drivers said talks broke down over health insurance and pension plans along with problems with work shifts.
“They said they would pay for medical insurance, they would give us a 401(k) and a pension plan,” bus driver Bennett Mills said. “They turned around and lied to us.”
