(Orange County) Union official says striking bus drivers close to labor agreement

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

ORANGE, Calif.—A top union official representing about 1,100 bus drivers on strike said Saturday that negotiators were close to reaching a three-year labor agreement with the Orange County Transportation Authority.

Patrick Kelly, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 952, said drivers' wages had been tentatively agreed on, and that a final deal could be reached when both sides return to the table later Saturday.

"We've reached a settlement of the economic issues," said Kelly. "We are hopeful that the buses could be running again by Sunday."

Kelly said other issues, such as retroactive pay, still had to be worked out.

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