A new contract has been approved by bus drivers and the Orange County Transportation Authority’s board of directors, putting an end to the possibility of a strike among the agency’s coach operators, who had threatened to walk off the job if the groups couldn’t come to an agreement.

Members of Teamsters 952, which represents about 600 OCTA drivers, ratified the new collective bargaining agreement over several days of voting that lasted into Monday – more than 90% of the drivers approved the contract, a union representative said. The OCTA board on Tuesday morning also approved the contract during a special meeting.

Board chairman Mark Murphy, who is also the mayor of Orange, said in a statement the board members were “very happy” about the agreement that “rewards our outstanding coach operators for the essential work they do, while remaining responsible to Orange County taxpayers.

“Most importantly, this agreement means that OC Bus service will keep running for passengers who count on us to get to work, to school and elsewhere throughout Orange County,” he said.

OCTA and its coach operators had been negotiating for about a year when union members voted to authorize a strike in January if they couldn’t come to an agreement soon. Issues they stalled on were over wages and break time for drivers.

The drivers planned to strike as soon as Feb. 15, but the groups reached a tentative agreement after an all-night negotiating session.

The new contract includes a 4% raise immediately upon approval, along with another 5% raise in the second and third years, OCTA officials said. A $2,000 signing bonus for drivers is also included, as well as guaranteed break times, according to the agency.

The now-approved contract will go into effect immediately and expires in April 2024.

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