Coach operators expected to vote on ratification this week and a special OCTA Board of Directors meeting would follow next week to consider final approval
ORANGE – OCTA and the union representing OCTA’s coach operators struck a tentative agreement on a new contract on Tuesday, keeping buses running for the thousands of Orange County passengers who rely upon bus service.
The tentative agreement was reached following more than 21 hours of negotiations that began Monday and lasted through the night into Tuesday morning. This bargaining session was after OCTA and the union met on approximately 40 previous occasions.
The tentative agreement is still subject to ratification by members of the coach operators’ union, Teamsters Local 952. That ratification vote is expected later this week. The agreement must also get final approval from the OCTA Board of Directors. A special meeting is being scheduled for next week. Details of the agreement would be disclosed publicly after final approval.
“We are very happy that both sides worked together in good faith to find resolution and avoid any disruption for those who rely upon OC Bus,” said OCTA Chairman Mark A. Murphy, also the Mayor of Orange. “We still have to seek final approvals, but I’m happy to say that our buses, driven by our outstanding coach operators, will continue to run, helping get our passengers to the places they need to be throughout Orange County. We believe this tentative agreement rewards the excellent work of our coach operators while remaining responsible to taxpayers.”
OC Bus 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 to get to and from school. In the past six months, more than 1 million trips have been taken on OC Bus with OCTA’s Youth Ride Free and college pass programs.
In addition, approximately 85% of riders use OC Bus as their primary means of transportation.
OCTA’s existing contract with the union, which represents approximately 600 coach operators directly employed by OCTA, expired April 30, 2021. If approved, the new contract would run through April 2024.
OCTA met with the union leaders approximately 40 times over the past year to negotiate a new contract and enhanced its offer to the union multiple times to help resolve disputes over break time and wages, among other issues.
Over the weekend, and again on Monday, OCTA and the union agreed to bring in state mediators to help find resolution.
OCTA will continue to keep riders informed of any important updates. Please visit octa.net.
