Bus Drivers Told to Return to Work by Dec. 22 or Lose Jobs

Orange County transit officials Monday warned striking bus drivers to return to work by next week or lose their jobs, an action the drivers denounced as “union busting.”

As the walkout entered its eighth day, strike leaders vowed to defy the Orange County Transit District’s Dec. 22 return-to-work deadline, which was approved by OCTD board members during an executive session at their regular meeting Monday morning at the transit agency’s headquarters in Garden Grove.

‘Permanent’ Replacements

“The district is committed to restoring complete service at the earliest possible date,” district Board Chairman Ralph B. Clark said at Monday’s session. “. . . The district regrettably has no choice but to hire new employees or ‘permanent’ replacements for striking drivers who do not return to work by Dec. 22, 1986.”

When told of the district’s action, United Transportation Union lawyer James R. Evans said angrily: “They’re bordering on the edge of illegality and unfair labor practices. . . . We have the legal right to strike. They (district officials) are engaged in union busting.”

Evans said the union will take the Transit District to court, if necessary, to halt the hiring of “permanent” as opposed to “temporary” replacement drivers. He added that he did not know when he would take such action. He said the union does not dispute the district’s right to hire “temporary” replacements, but it is believed that the district would have to rehire all strikers once the current labor dispute is resolved.

“We would look to our members to stick together,” said Juliene Smith, general chairman of Tustin-based UTU Local 19. “We would recommend that our drivers stay out until we resolve the strike. . . . They (district officials) are more concerned with breaking the union than with running service with quality professional drivers.”

Transit officials, however, countered that federal law permits hiring of “permanent” replacements and requires only that they rehire strikers after they give up their demands, as openings occur, because the OCTD drivers are seeking economic concessions rather than a halt to any unfair labor practices.

Both sides agreed Monday that last year’s landmark California Supreme Court ruling to allow strikes by public employees is not involved in this labor dispute because prior legislation specifically has authorized strikes by transit workers.

Bus service on 13 of OCTD’s 53 routes resumed Monday after fill-in drivers were given Sunday off to rest.

At the same time, striking drivers sang Christmas carols--with a few improvised lyrics--outside the district board meeting Monday. More of the same was planned for today’s regular meeting of the county Board of Supervisors, two of whom are Transit District board members.

A New Version

To the tune of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” the strikers sang, “Hark! Who’s in that bus I see? Taking jobs from you and me. Look out, or they’ll run you down! No one’s safe when they’re in town . . . Hark! Who’s in that bus I see? They’re not the real OCTD!”

The lyrics were written by Bonnie and Don Spaulding, two bus drivers who share the same birthday and were married last July after meeting on the job.

District spokeswoman Joanne Curran said the number of regular, full-time union drivers crossing the picket line increased to 12 Monday morning, up from four last week. No negotiations were held Monday and none were scheduled.

The strike has severed most Orange County transit links with the Los Angeles-based Southern California Rapid Transit District, but SCRTD routes and service remain unaffected. The Orange County drivers walked off their jobs last Monday after the union rejected OCTD’s “best and final offer” of a 7.5% wage hike over 3 1/2 years. The drivers have sought a 13% pay raise over the same period. Currently, the top pay rate is $13 an hour.

Part-Time Clause

The drivers also have objected to district-proposed contract provisions that would allow the district to double the number of part-time drivers to 20% of the work force, mandate drug testing by an OCTD-selected lab for drivers renewing their licenses, and tighten discipline for unscheduled absences.

Security measures were taken for Monday’s board meeting, including having armed guards search visitors’ belongings.

Some of the drivers who attended the meeting, while two dozen others gathered peacefully outside, expressed anger that district Chairman Clark gaveled the meeting to a close without seeking comment from anyone in the audience.

“They just shut us off completely,” union member Diane Bunker said angrily. “Mr. Clark knew we wanted to present our side of the story, but I guess he just didn’t want to listen. All the board members are getting is management’s version of events.”

Clark could not be reached for comment Monday after the meeting. An aide referred questions to Curran, who said Monday’s meeting was not a public hearing, so the board did not take public testimony.

Times staff writer Ray Perez contributed to this story.