O.C. bus strike -- SETTLED

The weeklong Orange County bus strike is over, and buses could be rolling again by Monday:

"We’ve reached a settlement of the economic issues," Patrick D. Kelly of Teamsters Local 952 said about 1:45 a.m. Drivers with less than five years' experience will start at $14.20 per hour and get raises in each of the following two years to $14.63 per hour and finally to $15.22 per hour, he said. Veteran drivers will start at $21.42 per hour and will be making $23.92 by the end of the three-year deal, he said. The two sides are scheduled to meet at 11:30 a.m. today to address some details, but Kelly said he expected picket lines to come down later today and bus service to resume "no later than Sunday." Kelly said he expected the drivers to ratify the tentative deal over the weekend. (CNS)