Orange County Bus Drivers Reach Tentative Deal To Avert Strike
ORANGE (CBSLA) — After a marathon negotiation session, the Orange County Transportation Authority and the bus drivers' union reached a tentative deal to avert a strike that would have interrupted the commutes of thousands of riders.
Teamsters Local 952 confirmed to CBSLA Tuesday that a tentative agreement was reached. Members will vote on it in the coming days.
OCTA bus drivers were slated to begin their strike at midnight Monday. However, the two sides continued negotiations with a third-party mediator overnight and into Tuesday morning before eventually reaching the deal sometime before 11:30 a.m.
According to OCTA, if the strike had taken place, service on 75% of its bus routes would have be suspended, creating significant disruptions to those who rely on public transit to commute to work and home. About 70,000 people ride the buses daily.
"Very tough on me, I live over in Anaheim and live in a sober living as well," said bus rider Adrian Sandoval. "I really don't have a ride to get here and get back."
The collective bargaining agreement between the OCTA and Teamsters Local 952 expired on April 30, 2021.
"We believe the riders will understand why we are striking when they find out they (the drivers) don't get any restroom breaks and no raise, especially when the board got a wage increase, yet they've given us zero," Teamsters Local 952 union CEO Eric Jimenez said Monday. "I think they'll understand and fight with us."
Teamster officials said they made several proposals on Thursday and Friday but did not receive a counteroffer. Zlotnik said the agency has made counterproposals.
"No one wants to see a strike happen," OCTA spokesperson Joel Zlotnik said. "I think we all agree on that we know how much our riders depend upon public transit about 85 percent of riders use the bus as their primary means of transportation; to get to work, school, doctor's appointments. We don't want to see them hurt by this."
Jimenez said another issue has been pay increases and whether they would be applied retroactively.
"I might as well just hop on my board and skate from Anaheim to over here," Sandoval said. "It's gonna be a long mission but its gonna be worth it if the buses do go on strike."
(© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)