O.C. bus strike looms

We are getting closer to a bus drivers strike in Orange County, but officials for both the union and the OCTA seem to feel talks are going better:

Talks continued today between bus drivers and the Orange County Transportation Authority, but the drivers could go on strike this weekend if the two sides fail to agree on a new contract, a union official said. About 95% of the 1,100 drivers voted to strike in May, but a judge ordered a 60-day cooling-off period, which expires at midnight Friday. More talks are scheduled for today and tomorrow, both sides said. "We are working very hard to achieve a reasonable and fair collective bargaining agreement for the coach operators," said Patrick Kelly, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 952, which represents the bus drivers. (CNS)