From: "Friends of Transit" To: Subject: Tempe bus drivers OK agreement Date: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 1:44 AM Tempe bus drivers OK agreement Contract raises pay, benefits and sick time By DENNIS WELCH TRIBUNE - CONTACT WRITER: (480) 898-6573 or dwelch@aztrib.com A citywide bus strike that would have left thousands of Tempe commuters looking for a ride was avoided this week when union bus drivers voted to approve a new labor agreement. Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433 voted 82-18 to accept a contract that increases pay, benefits and sick time for the city's bus drivers. "We're very relieved that we won't have any disruptions to our bus service," said Amanda Nelson, the transportation marketing supervisor. Drivers received an additional sick day as well as an additional week of vacation each year, according to Val Michaels, a spokeswoman for the company. She was unable to provide details regarding the drivers' pay, except to say that they will see an increase. The union was demanding better pay for their drivers, which under the old contract had started at $10 per hour and topped out at $13.63. During negotiations, the company offered to cap wages at $16.09, while the union wanted $21 per hour. A spokesperson for the union was unavailable for comment. Last month, the union voted to terminate the previous labor agreement, which contained a no-strike clause. The move cleared the way for the drivers to walk out as early as Wednesday. A strike would have affected most of the city's 21 bus routes. The agreement ends months of negotiations between the two sides, which began Dec. 31 when the previous agreement expired. The drivers had been working under a contract extension. The Tempe City Council recently approved a $17 million contract with bus service contractor ATC Tempe, which included a 5 percent pay raise for its employees.