OCTA and union representing OCTA’s maintenance employees agree to new contract

Dec. 13, 2022

The deal was reached following months of face-to-face talks and recent negotiations through a mediator that led to a tentative agreement late last week.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the union representing OCTA’s maintenance employees have agreed to terms on a new contract, ensuring that buses will keep running for the thousands of Orange County passengers who rely upon bus service.

The deal was reached following months of face-to-face talks and recent negotiations through a mediator that led to a tentative agreement late last week. Those contract terms were ratified by a vote of union members and then approved by the OCTA Board of Directors on Dec. 12.

“We are excited that both sides were able to work out differences, find common ground and keep our buses running for the tens of thousands of people who rely on OC Bus to get to work, to school and other important destinations,” said OCTA Chairman Mark A. Murphy, who is also the mayor of Orange County. “This contract rewards our maintenance employees for the great work they do.”

The three-year deal with OCTA’s 150 maintenance workers, including mechanics and service workers, gives them a five percent raise over each of the next three years and includes a $1,250 signing bonus.

OC Bus is essential to ensuring the public can get to work, school, and to healthcare, with ridership recently climbing to an average above 100,000 passengers a day for the first time since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bus service is also vital to students to get to and from school, with thousands of students of all ages using the Youth Ride Free Pass and the College Pass programs every day. In addition, approximately 85 percent of riders use OC Bus as their primary means of transportation.

OCTA’s existing contract with the union expired Sept. 30. The new contract will run through the end of 2025.