Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) fixed route bus service has resumed with the authority warning of potential delays after picket lines lifted on a 96-hour strike by Teamsters Local 952, which represents approximately 150 mechanics, machinists and service workers employed by OCTA.
OCTA fixed route bus service has been suspended since Thursday morning due to the strike that began the afternoon of Nov. 2. Both sides returned to the bargaining table throughout the weekend and are scheduled to meet again Monday.
Teamsters Local 952 posted an update on Nov. 4 that said it intended to suspend picketing Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. to make sure transit reliant Orange County residents had transportation to get to voting centers for Tuesday’s election.
The union requested its members report to work as scheduled in a Sunday evening update but noted if an agreement is not reached, the picket lines “may go up again this week.”
In a message to riders posted on Sunday evening, OCTA reiterated its commitment to reaching a resolution through negotiations and called the strike unnecessary and an unfair burden to 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 and Mayor of Orange Mark A. Murphy.
