'Progress' in O.C. bus strike talks

There were signs of progress during a marathon session of talks between OCTA officials and bus drivers:

Both sides in the Orange County Transportation Authority bus strike continued negotiations today as the work stoppage entered its fourth day. "We’re making progress," OCTA spokesman Ted Nguyen said last night. "We’re moving in the right direction. There’s a lot of progress that’s been made" in the negotiations that began at 1 p.m. yesterday. The two sides -- five negotiators for the OCTA and 10 for the union -- then negotiated through the night, though what they accomplished was not immediately disclosed this morning. A main sticking point, according to OCTA officials, is that the union wants wage increases over the span of the three-year upcoming contract to benefit senior drivers -- those with five years or more on the job and making $21.42 an hour -- with none going to younger drivers. (CNS)

Meanwhile, The Times' Jennifer Delson reports that the strike has hit working-class Santa Ana hard.