Southern Arizona Unions Endorse Q1&2

April 21st, 2006

Representing the voices of more than 20,000 labor-union members in Southern Arizona, the Pima Area Labor Federation of the Arizona AFL-CIO recently announced its support of the Regional Transportation Plan for Pima County, joining an unprecedented coalition endorsing Questions 1 and 2.

If passed by voters on May 16, the improvements in the 20-year transportation plan will benefit working families—one of the reasons the Pima Area Labor Federation endorses the Plan, said Bobby Martinez, Chair of the Pima Area Labor Foundation.

Martinez served on the Citizens Advisory Committee that helped shape the transportation plan. “The efforts to create the transportation plan were a truly collaborative activity, involving Democrats and Republicans, the business community and labor,” he said.

The improvements in the regional transportation plan will help reduce congestion, increase motor vehicle safety and significantly improve public transit service—all are things that will directly improve the quality of life for working families.

“This plan will mean better-paying jobs for workers in Pima County through the expansion of bus routes and through the development of new road construction which will be held to federal contracting rates. The plan will also offer more opportunities for residents because the bus routes will run longer hours, offering workers the ability to work overtime or a second shift, as well as to attend classes or training in the evening,” Martinez said.

“We have been advocating for years to expand the public transportation system in our community,” said Joe Hernandez, Business Agent of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters #104, one of the unions represented by the Pima Area Labor Federation.

“It is vital to the development and preservation of Tucson’s working families who rely on public transport to attend schools, go to worship, jobs and recreation,” Hernandez said.

“The development of our community and the economic growth of our community depend on the expansion of our transportation system,” Hernandez said. “The International Brotherhood of Teamsters #104 supports the sound plan to rationalize our public transport because it is the cornerstone of maintaining economic growth, healthy families and a prosperous community.”

The May 16 ballot will have two questions regarding the transportation plan due to requirements in Arizona state law. One will ask voters to approve the Plan. The second will ask approval for a half-cent sales tax to fund the projects. Both must pass in order for the plan to be put into effect. If either passes without the other, neither will be able to occur independently.

The Plan was developed to identify the most essential transportation needs for the future of the community – above and beyond what the State, City and County will be doing on an ongoing basis. The only option to fund the plan is through a sales tax; the state does not allow the gas tax or a bond issue to be used for this purpose.

Entry Filed under: Featured Articles, Public Transit, Widespread support, Economic development