ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥: Archive photos of transit strikes in Tucson
These archive photos follow transit strikes against Tucson Rapid Transit and Sun Tran in Tucson going back to 1958.
Transit strikes in Tucson
Striking members of Local 1167, Amalgamated Transit Workers, stop a bus exiting the Tucson Transit Corp. bus yard on Plumer Ave. in Tucson on June 5, 1968. Dan Tortorell / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
A striking driver, right, gives a news photographer the evil eye after drivers voted to strike against Tucson Rapid Transit Co. in August, 1958. Tucson Citizen photo
Transit strikes in Tucson
Striking members of Local 1167, Amalgamated Transit Workers, stop a driver entering the Tucson Transit Corp. bus yard on Plumer Ave. in Tucson on June 5, 1968. Dan Tortorell / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
Tucson Transit Corp. busses idled by a strike by members of Local 1167, Amalgamated Transit Workers in April, 1968. Dan Tortorell / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
A Tucson 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 / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
A union "courtesy van" follows a Tucson Transit Corp. bus on Pennington Street in Tucson 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 / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
A union "courtesy van" follows a Tucson Transit Corp. bus on Pennington Street in Tucson 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 / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
Tucson Police stage at the entrance to the Sun Tran bus yard in Tucson during picketing by union members on Aug. 11, 1978. Bruce Hopkins / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
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 / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
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 Tucson on January 17, 1980. Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
A Sun Tran spokesperson details the company's offer using a flip chart during the 1980 strike. Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
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 / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
Emilio Puig passes the time playing horseshoes as union members picket Sun Tran during a strike on January 25, 1980. Joan Rennick / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
Striking Sun Tran employees try to stay warm on the picket lines during a cold night in January, 1980. Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
Striking Sun Tran workers on the picket lines at Park and Ajo in Tucson on a chilly January night in 1980. Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
Union members clean up trash on the picket lines at Park and Ajo in Tucson on the final day of the strike against Sun Tran on Feb. 1, 1980. Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
Striking Sun Tran workers gesture as a bus leaves the Laos Center in Tucson on Sept. 5, 2001, after more than 400 drivers, mechanics and other workers walked out. A.E. Araiza / ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star
Transit strikes in Tucson
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 / ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star
Transit strikes in Tucson
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 / Tucson Citizen
Transit strikes in Tucson
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 / ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star
Transit strikes in Tucson
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 / ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star
Transit strikes in Tucson
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 / ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star
Transit strikes in Tucson
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 / ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star
Transit strikes in Tucson
Tucson city manager Mike Letcher listens during a city council meeting discussing the Sun Tran strike in Tucson, Ariz. on August 4, 2010. Photo by Greg Bryan/ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star
Transit strikes in Tucson
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 Tucson on August 4, 2010. Photo by Greg Bryan/ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
Fare-free transit could cost Tucson taxpayers up to $1M a month, save riders $40For Star subscribers: Tucson’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.