Officials with a Phoenix bus driver's union have agreed on a new contract with service provider First Transit. Negotiators worked through the night to settle on the tentative agreement.
The contract covers Phoenix bus drivers who service 14 routes throughout the city. Negotiations began six months ago. Earlier this month, members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433 threatened service disruptions during Super Bowl Weekend if an agreement wasn’t reached soon.
But just after 5 a.m. Tuesday, the groups settled on the terms of a three-year contract. They credit Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton for keeping the negotiators at the table through the night.
"We knew that getting this agreement done is good for everyone," said Stanton. "And it's certainly less expensive to get this deal done than it would have been to provide all the extra service that would have been necessary to bring in the drivers."
ATU 1433 spokesman Michael Cornelius said union members still have to vote on the contract, but added group leaders will be issuing a recommendation of support.
"The offer improves the wage package, it improves the quality of the work that the operators will be doing and the fuelers and cleaners that often get left out of the press," he said.
Nicholas Promponas of First Transit said the company is grateful to have the issue behind them.
"Through the effort of all parties, in particular the commitment that we all had last night, to stay at the table literally all night until we had a deal concluded," Promponas said. "We’re thrilled about that."
Specific details of the new contract won’t be released until union members vote on it next week.
Updated Jan. 20, 2015 at 4:26 p.m.
