November 2nd 2022: OCTA has announced that there will be no countywide bus service tomorrow after members of Teamster Local 952 representing mechanics, machinists and service technicians announced they are going out on strike. The Access disability service will be running but all fixed route OC Bus routes will not be running.
The shut down of OC Bus occurred after talks ended Monday with no agreement over pay and as well as members benefits. OCTA asked the union to meet again on Friday but the union then announced a strike would occur in the next 96 hours.
The strike will be a big blow to the systems 100,000 daily riders most of all make less than $50,000 a year and have no other transit options. The strike means riders could lose there jobs if unable to get to them or miss important things such as doctors appointments.
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Opinion:
Here is my two cents i believe that unions should have the right to strike for better pay and benefits. But also i think stranding nearly 100,00 people without another way to get to school, jobs or important appointments is disgraceful especially in a time of out of control inflation and, people worried about losing their jobs.
If people lose there jobs of no fault of there own because they are unable to get to work because of the strike is the Teamsters union going to compensate them? I work 10 miles from my job and am facing a 20 mile round trip walk every work day because of the strike. A strike also means 1,000 OC Bus employees not on strike such as ride operators who agreed to a new contract recently are also not working now and losing pay.
