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UPDATE: Sun Tran, Teamsters fail to reach contract agreement

Sun Tran and Teamsters Local 104 failed to reach a contract deal. Members vote July 11-12 on the company's final offer.
Sun Tran bus strike deadline imminent
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UPDATE (07/01 - 5:00 p.m.):

Sun Tran says it is currently operating full service and remains committed to continuing safe, reliable transit despite the expiration of its contract with Teamsters Local 104 at midnight on June 30.

The transit agency presented its last, best, and final offer to the union early Wednesday morning. Teamsters Local 104 is expected to vote on the proposal by July 12.

If a work stoppage occurs, Sun Tran says it will implement a limited-service schedule. Riders are encouraged to check SunTran.com for updates and to allow extra travel time, as wait times could be longer than usual.

Riders can also use the Sun Link Streetcar, Sun On Demand, Sun Shuttle, and Sun Rideshare. For help with trip planning, call Customer Service at (520) 792-9222.

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UPDATE (07/01 - 6:00 a.m.):

Teamsters Local Union No. 104 and Sun Tran did not reach a tentative agreement after bargaining through the night on June 30, 2026.

Sun Tran has presented what it calls its last, best, and final offer.

The union's Negotiating Committee worked to secure a fair agreement addressing workplace safety and the value of members' work, but the parties were unable to reach a deal.

Sun Tran's final offer will be presented directly to union membership the weekend of July 11 and 12, when members will vote to either accept or reject it.

Teamsters Local 104 said the safety of its members and the community remains one of its highest priorities, noting that operators continue to face unsafe working conditions.

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Hundreds of people ride Tucson buses and street cars every day. But they could have a tough time Wednesday. Transit drivers may strike at midnight July 1st if their demands are not met.

The Ronstadt Transit center helps people move from downtown all across the city. It’s one of three major SunTran Bus Centers.

But the Teamsters Union says 99 percent of the drivers rolling in and out of Ronstadt have already voted to strike if there’s no new contract agreement with SunTran management.

Lydia Orduno says a strike will be bad for the city and bad for her.

“Because I'm disabled, and sometimes I can't get a ride anywhere. You know what I mean? Like, that would suck for us, especially as handicapped people, because we're stuck, you know what I mean, like, so it's like we don't know what to do, you know what I mean. So I hope that they don't go on strike because it’s going to suck for the whole city.”

Strikes often hinge on money—financial security. This dispute is more about physical security. Ever since the city of Tucson stopped collecting fares and made transit free, drivers complained buses have become rolling shelters for drugs and violence.

Tami Ruiz says she knows what the drivers are talking about.

“They really need to do a lot of safety on the bus because it is scary for a female like me or anybody else. At nighttime it's really scary on the bus, especially the North Side Grant area, that's a really bad area right there to get on the bus.”

The Tucson City Council affirmed its commitment to fare-free transit when it passed its new budget just a few days ago, but it also committed more than two million dollars to beef up transit security.

If negotiations fail and the strike goes on that may not mean buses stop entirely. In the last strike more than ten years ago supervisors took over the driving but they had fewer buses on the streets.