Bus drivers refused overtime on a Monday earlier this month.
Valley Metro bus drivers briefly interrupted service this month by refusing to work overtime, a tactic to apply pressure during ongoing contract talks.
Because Valley Metro, like other bus systems, cannot hire enough drivers to run all its routes, it needs some drivers to volunteer for overtime. That stop-gap faltered when drivers declined all overtime shifts March 2, a Monday.
Employees coordinated the action to signal the urgency of Valley Metro returning to the bargaining table after a meeting in November, according to the union leader. The two sides later resumed communication…