Gov. intervenes again in bus drivers’ dispute
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called Sunday for a 60-day cooling-off period in a contract dispute between 1,100 bus drivers and the Orange County Transportation Authority.
Lawyers for the state are expected to seek an injunction today against a strike by Teamsters Local 952, which represents the drivers. More than 200,000 people use the buses daily.
The drivers, whose contract expired last week, contend that their wages have failed to keep up with inflation and that they cannot afford to live in the county. The drivers are seeking a 14% pay increase; the authority is offering 8%. Drivers’ hourly wages range from $13.72 to $21.42.
On April 30, the governor blocked a strike for seven days by appointing a panel to gather facts about the dispute. That panel issued a report Sunday, not taking sides but saying that a strike would hurt the county.
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