/ Modified aug 27, 2015 4:27 p.m.

Teamsters Reject Latest Sun Tran Offer in Tucson Bus Strike

Sun Tran general manager declines comment: 'I do not negotiate through the media.'

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The union representing striking Tucson bus drivers and mechanics Thursday rejected management's latest offer, calling it "a worse proposal" than what workers previously turned down.

Sun Tran, operated under contract with the city by Professional Transit Management, proposed raises and benefits increases that are lower for each of three years than the 50 cents an hour plus increased pension payments offered at the end of July.

Sun Tran's general manager acknowledged at a Thursday news conference that management had made an offer Tuesday, but she declined to discuss it.

"My philosophy is that I do not negotiate through the media," General Manager Kate Riley said.

More than 500 drivers, mechanics and bus station workers who belong to Teamsters Local 104 have been on strike since Aug. 5, forcing Sun Tran to suspend all but nine of its 43 routes and leaving tens of thousands of passengers to find other ways to get around. The system normally carries 66,000 passenger trips a day.

Riley said she wants negotiations to resume and "has been continually working with the federal mediator to schedule a time for both sides to talk."

The Teamsters Union has said it will return to negotiations when Sun Tran makes a better offer. In a press release Thursday, the union accused bus system management of "hypocrisy" over its latest offer.

"SunTran management has continued to provide the media with misleading and incorrect information regarding that proposal in an attempt to influence public opinion," the statement said. It added that management wants its proposals and any discussions "subject to a media blackout."

The bus system will add Saturday service on three routes this weekend and hopes to add Monday through Friday service on two more routes next week. The system has not had weekend service since the strike began.

The Teamsters press release said a federal mediator delivered Sun Tran's latest offer Wednesday.

"The Teamsters have examined and costed the proposal and have found it to be a worse proposal than the firm and final proposal that the striking employees overwhelmingly rejected by more than 98 percent on Aug. 1," the press release said.

It said Sun Tran and the city have saved $2 million in wage and pension payments and $750,000 in fuel and other operational costs during the 22 days of the strike, and that money should go "to help settle this strike."

Riley said her company is constrained by its contract with the city.

"It's our job to work within the city of Tucson's approved budget to ensure the contact package is sustainable long term," she said.

The city has about $30 million in Sun Tran subsidies in its budget for the current fiscal year.

Newly added Saturday service will run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on East Broadway's Route 8, North Oracle Road's Route 16 and South Sixth Avenue's Route 18, Riley said.

The system hopes to add service next week, Monday through Friday, on Route 6, which runs along North Euclid and North First avenues, and Route 7, which runs on East 22nd Street.

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