Photos: Archive photos of transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
These archive photos follow transit strikes against ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Rapid Transit and Sun Tran in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ going back to 1958.
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Striking members of Local 1167, Amalgamated Transit Workers, stop a bus exiting the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Transit Corp. bus yard on Plumer Ave. in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 5, 1968. Dan Tortorell / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
A striking driver, right, gives a news photographer the evil eye after drivers voted to strike against ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Rapid Transit Co. in August, 1958. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen photo
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Striking members of Local 1167, Amalgamated Transit Workers, stop a driver entering the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Transit Corp. bus yard on Plumer Ave. in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 5, 1968. Dan Tortorell / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Transit Corp. busses idled by a strike by members of Local 1167, Amalgamated Transit Workers in April, 1968. Dan Tortorell / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
A ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Transit bus is followed by strikers with a sign claiming the driver is non-union during a strike members of Local 1167, Amalgamated Transit Workers on June 4, 1968. Bruce Hopkins / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
A union "courtesy van" follows a ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Transit Corp. bus on Pennington Street in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in April, 1969. Passengers board at bus stops and could donate a fare. By pirating passengers from the transit service, union members added to TTC's financial problems. Bruce Hopkins / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
A union "courtesy van" follows a ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Transit Corp. bus on Pennington Street in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in April, 1969. Passengers board at bus stops and could donate a fare. By pirating passengers from the transit service, union members added to TTC's financial problems. Bruce Hopkins / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Police stage at the entrance to the Sun Tran bus yard in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during picketing by union members on Aug. 11, 1978. Bruce Hopkins / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
A union member outside the Sun Tran bus yard takes a siesta on a warm day during a long day of picketing on Aug. 11, 1978. Bruce Hopkins / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Eleanor Hershey got three local donut shops to donate three dozen donuts to feed hungry union members on the picket line at Sun Tran in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on January 17, 1980. Gary Gaynor / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
A Sun Tran spokesperson details the company's offer using a flip chart during the 1980 strike. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
A striking Sun Tran employee unfurled a Strike flag at the bus yard at Park and Ajo in January, 1980. He gave his name as "Bilbo F. Baggins." Sure. Gary Gaynor / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Emilio Puig passes the time playing horseshoes as union members picket Sun Tran during a strike on January 25, 1980. Joan Rennick / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Striking Sun Tran employees try to stay warm on the picket lines during a cold night in January, 1980. Gary Gaynor / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Striking Sun Tran workers on the picket lines at Park and Ajo in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on a chilly January night in 1980. Gary Gaynor / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Union members clean up trash on the picket lines at Park and Ajo in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on the final day of the strike against Sun Tran on Feb. 1, 1980. Gary Gaynor / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Striking Sun Tran workers gesture as a bus leaves the Laos Center in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on Sept. 5, 2001, after more than 400 drivers, mechanics and other workers walked out. A.E. Araiza / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Suntran bus driver Nina Rosales shows her support for the SunTran bus strike as she walks the crosswalk downtown in front of the Ronstadt Center at Congress and 6th Ave during a red light on Aug. 13, 1997. She was not stopping traffic. Photo by David / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Sun Tran drivers Jack Lopez (left) and Christine Tabor call out to passing motorists near the Sun Tran entrance on South Park Avenue on July 17, 1998. Sun Tran drivers voted to go on strike if the city did not improve its offer to raise pay by nearly 12 percent. Norma Jean Gargasz / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Alfred West (left), John Seitz and Robbie Salazar,7, walk with their Teamsters picket signs in front of Ronstadt Transit Center on Aug. 14, 1997. Photo by James S. Wood / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
SunTran Drivers Bill Hale (left) and Amy Seitz (right) vote over whether to accept the new work contract at the Local 104 Teamsters hall on Aug. 19, 1997. Photo by by Linda Seeger Salazar / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
SunTran bus driver Greg Carpenter heads to his bus at the SunTran bus yard at Park and Ajo in August, 1997, after the union members voted to return to work under a new contract. The drivers had been on strike for more than a week. Photo by Linda Seeger Salazar / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Barbara Franco, a driver for Sun Tran, hangs a large black ribbon and a U.S. flag in a tree on Sept. 12, 2001, in support of the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Benjie Sanders / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ city manager Mike Letcher listens during a city council meeting discussing the Sun Tran strike in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. on August 4, 2010. Photo by Greg Bryan/ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Transit strikes in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Teamsters Local 104 members are let in one-by-one until cpacity is met for a city council meeting discussing the Sun Tran strike in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on August 4, 2010. Photo by Greg Bryan/ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
Fare-free transit could cost ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ taxpayers up to $1M a month, save riders $40For Star subscribers: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s transit system has always been inexpensive. In 2020 it was made free as a COVID-19 mitigation measure. Now, some council members want to make it permanent – is it worth the city taxpayer dollars?
Current contract expired at midnight Friday.