OCTA and union negotiators met again over the weekend and OCTA hopes to avoid further impacting passengers; Bus riders are advised to check OCTA.net for updates
ORANGE – Bus service in Orange County is anticipated to resume beginning Monday morning and passengers are advised they can expect some service delays following a four-day strike of maintenance employees.
Riders should continue checking octa.net for updates.
While a deal has yet to be reached, labor negotiations are ongoing between OCTA and the union representing OCTA’s 150 maintenance workers. The union agreed to resume meetings with OCTA, with talks occurring over the weekend and continuing on Monday.
The union ended its picket lines around 4 p.m. Sunday, but union leaders have also said they could call a strike again at any time, which would further disrupt bus service for the more than 100,000 daily riders in Orange County.
OCTA remains committed to reaching a resolution through negotiations noting a strike is unnecessary and unfairly burdens bus passengers.
“We hope that there will be no further disruption in service and that we can work this out without affecting the people that count on OC Bus to get to work, school and other important destinations,” said OCTA Chairman Mark A. Murphy, also the Mayor of Orange.
Public transit is critical for the people who rely on it. Approximately 85% of riders use OC Bus as their primary means of transportation and more than half of riders have a total household income of less than $50,000.
Transit service is also vital to students getting to and from school. In the last year, more than 3 million trips have been taken on OC Bus with OCTA’s Youth Ride Free and College Pass programs.
OCTA has met with the union more than 25 times, including mediated sessions, to negotiate a new contract. The existing contract expired Sept. 30.
