Status of Labor Negotiations:

The existing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1433 and Veolia Transdev (Veolia), the private company contracted to provide Tempe’s bus service, expired June 30, 2011. Veolia and ATU are continuing to negotiate a new contract.  Although no formal extension was agreed to, both organizations are operating under the terms of the previous contract.

UPDATE: Veolia presented its “Best and Final Offer” to Tempe ATU members on September 20, 2011.  Tempe ATU membership  voted on the proposal on October 4, 2011 and  rejected the contract.  The Union has received approval from the international leadership to conduct a strike. The negotiation process is ongoing.

Tempe’s contract with Veolia requires it to have a Service Continuity Plan and maintain service in the event of labor strike, severe labor shortage, fuel disruption, natural or manmade disaster or other catastrophic incident that might significantly disrupt transit services. In the event of any service disruption action by ATU union members, city of Tempe and Veolia Transdev will work together to maintain as much transit service as possible.      

 Contingency Plans/How does this affect me?

• In the event of any  service disruption by ATU union members, city of Tempe and Veolia Transdev will work together to maintain as much transit service as possible.  

• The City's service prioritization plan establishes Sunday/Holiday level of service as a minimum goal; however, service levels at the route level may vary based on passenger demand. Affected routes operated by Tempe would include FLASH, Orbit Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Jupiter, 48, 56, 62, 65, 66, 72, 77, 81, 108, Express 510, 512, 520 and 521. It is unlikely that the express routes would run in the event of a strike,  What routes are operated by which contractor? METRO light rail will not be affected.

• Veolia Transdev will import drivers from other Veolia properties around the valley and country, as well as assigning Veolia supervisor and management staff to driving positions.   

• City staff are finalizing security plans to ensure employee and public safety during any  service disruption and associated ATU action implemented in public space.

Communication Plan:

If Veolia Transdev receives notice that a service disruption may be imminent, city staff will implement the following communication plan to inform the public about plans for maintaining service. 

• Information posted at heavily used bus stops (if time permits)

• Passenger notices on buses (if time permits)

• On board bus announcements

• Press releases

• Twitter, FaceBook

•  Tempe 11 bulletin board info.

• Valley Metro Customer Service

• Valley Metro and Tempe web sites

City of Phoenix Transit Labor Negotiations Progress

Media Contacts
News outlets with questions about ongoing labor negotiations or affected transit service can call these contacts.

• Veolia Transdev - Valerie Michaels, Director of Corporate Communications, 702-425-8419
• City of Tempe - Sue Taaffe, Public Information Officer, 480-350-8663
• ATU Local 1433 - Bob Bean, 602-495-9466

Last Modified Jan. 31, 2012