NCTD Averts Teamsters' Strike, Bus Service Interruptions

SAN DIEGO, CA — The North County Transit District has averted a service interruption that could have began Thursday on bus and other public transportation routes if certain unionized employees went on strike.

Cincinnati-based First Transit alerted customers Wednesday of a potential service disruption for its LIFT paratransit, FLEX and BREEZE operations at NCTD due to union negotiations between NCTD’s service operator, First Transit, and the LIFT and FLEX drivers and reservationists.

But on Thursday, First Transit announced that because it reached a tentative agreement with the Teamsters Local 542 of San Diego, there will be no service interruptions after all.

Union members are scheduled to vote on the tentative agreement next week, according to a statement Thursday from First Transit.

"First Transit and the Teamsters Local 542 worked through the night to reach this tentative agreement," said Mark Weinstein, area vice president of First Transit. "We look forward to the results of the ratification vote next week."

NCTD did not anticipate any COASTER and SPRINTER disruption if the strike were to happen, but passengers were advised to have alternate transportation arrangements as a backup should any unforeseen disruptions have occurred.

In May, more than 300 First Transit employees contracted to work for San Diego's Metropolitan Transit System went on strike for more than a week until an agreement was reached.

(Patch file photo/Maggie Avants)