OCTA asks union to continue negotiating to avoid any service disruptions and OC Bus riders are advised to check OCTA.net for service updates
ORANGE – Bus passengers should plan alternate ways to travel as soon as tomorrow Nov. 3, after the Orange County Transportation Authority was notified this afternoon that its maintenance employees intend to go on strike as soon as today, Wednesday, Nov. 2.
If a strike is called by the union, bus service is expected to continue through Wednesday but service would halt in Orange County beginning on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 3.
Bus passengers are asked to check for updates at: www.octa.net.
OCTA and the union for OCTA’s 150 mechanics and service workers, Teamsters Local 952, have been meeting with the hope of resolving the contract negotiations and avoiding any disruptions to bus service but the union notified OCTA Wednesday afternoon of its intent to strike.
OCTA believes a strike is unnecessary and unfairly affects bus passengers and more than 1,000 OCTA employees. OCTA is calling on the union to call off the strike and return to negotiations to find a resolution.
“We are extremely disappointed that union leaders took this drastic action and called for a strike,” said OCTA Chairman Mark A. Murphy, also the Mayor of Orange. “We know that any interruption in bus service hurts the people in our community who rely on OC Bus to get where they need to be, whether that’s jobs or to school. We still believe we can reach a fair resolution without putting the burden on bus passengers.”
Public transit is critical for people to reach jobs, education, healthcare, grocery shopping and elsewhere. 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.
OCTA is offering a contract that rewards the hard work of the employees who keep buses running safely and efficiently, while remaining fiscally responsible to Orange County taxpayers.
Transit service is essential to ensuring the public can get to work and has access to healthcare, including COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites. 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.
In February, OCTA successfully negotiated with Teamsters Local 952, reaching a three-year contract agreement with coach operators. That same month an agreement was reached with the union representing employees in OCTA’s Operations Division.
“We believe the contract offer we’ve made to maintenance employees is in line with what was offered to our coach operators and other union workers. It’s a generous offer that is very competitive in the marketplace,” Chairman Murphy said.
OCTA has met with the Teamsters more than 20 times, including mediated sessions, to negotiate a new contract. The existing contract expired Sept. 30.
For updates, visit: www.octa.net.
