OCTA reaches new labor agreements

The Calif.-based Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) board of directors approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with its coach operators and maintenance employees.

Both of the contracts with Teamsters Local 952 run through 2016 and call for no change in wages for the first year and a 4.5% increase in the second and third years, respectively.

OCTA employs 835 coach operators and 185 maintenance workers who are Teamsters Local 952 members.

As a cost-saving measure, the coach operators’ contract allows OCTA to increase the amount of bus service that is contracted out to 40%, an additional 10% above the previous collective bargaining agreement. The maintenance workers’ contract puts no limit on subcontracting.

Both agreements include no retroactive pay, no cost-of-living allowances and increased contributions for health care coverage. Union employees will receive a one-time signing bonus, ranging from $1,364 to $1,925.

Members of Teamsters Local 952 voted over the weekend to ratify the contracts and the OCTA board approved the contracts at its Monday meeting.