Striking Phoenix bus drivers lose health-care coverage

[Ptah]

Source: Arizona Republic

Tensions between striking Phoenix bus drivers and Transdev, the contractor that operates many of the city's bus routes, escalated Monday as drivers blasted the company for suspending their medical insurance as they picket while waiting for a new contract.

With the strike entering its fourth day, union members held an emotional rally outside the city's bus yard in south Phoenix. Union President Bob Bean said drivers and their family members had been denied medication and treatment since Transdev stopped their benefits Friday. That included one driver who was set to undergo surgery, he said.

“This company has stooped to a low that I have never seen in … 37 years in transportation and union work," Bean said. "That is as low as it comes."

Hundreds of drivers with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433 have been on strike since Friday, after they rejected Transdev's latest "best and final" contract offer. The strike has left nearly 80,000-weekday transit riders with reduced or canceled service on 34 bus routes that Transdev operates for the city.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2016/01/11/striking-phoenix-bus-drivers-lose-health-care-coverage/78649232/

[PatrickforO]

2. The leadership of Transdev sounds like a bunch of slime.

These greed heads have to be stopped. Without workers there IS no profit, so workers need to have a fair share - at least be held equal to shareholders.

But you know, this just goes to prove what the Wobblies said: The working class and the employing class have NOTHING in common.

[Mosby]

3. There are a lot of low income folks that can't get to work

And will be fired soon if this is not resolved.

Imo city bus drivers should not be allowed to strike, but they should be city employees not working for private companies.

[Feeling the Bern]

5. The public transportation of Maricopa County sucks to begin with

One bus every 30 minutes for ten hours a day, then one every 45 minutes on weekends.

Imo city bus drivers should not be allowed to strike - how do they deal with employers like this then? Their labor is the only thing they have. Because income folks can't get to work, bus drivers should just suck up what peanuts their overlords throw them?

Support all strikes and all union activities! Solidarity!

[marble falls]

6. What a crap service coverage for a city and metropolitan area the size...

of Phoenix.

[Coventina]

7. Phoenix was built with cars in mind. We have the worst public transit EVER!

(for a metro area of 6+ million, that is).

I could rant for hours about it.....

[Omaha Steve]

8. Public employees in NEBR can't strike

There is a board to take your grievance to when there is no agreement on a contract. It is expensive to the union on purpose. A couple hundred thousand. So a small union can't afford it and settles for less.

Omaha's public bus system is not run by the city, but the employees can't strike: http://www.ometro.com/

Usually a company will let insurance for strikers run through the end of the month. This company is just being nasty.

OS