Governor Schwarzenegger Calls for Cooling-Off Period in OCTA Labor Dispute
Letter
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today sent the following letter to Attorney General Brown requesting a 60-day injunction to prevent an Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) strike or lockout. The report from the Board of Investigation, which is referenced in the letter below, is attached.
Text of the letter:
May 6, 2007
The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Attorney General
State of California
1300 I Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Re:Requested Injunction in Orange County Transportation Authority/Teamsters Local 952 Labor Dispute
Dear Mr. Attorney General,
I have reviewed the Report of the Board of Investigation dated May 6, 2007, concerning the labor dispute between the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the General Truck Drivers, Office, Food and Warehouse Union Local 952 (Teamsters, Local 952). The report states that neither party has set a firm deadline for a strike or lockout. However, the OCTA-Teamsters Local 952 contract has expired, removing any contract bar to a strike, and members of Teamsters Local 952 voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. Also, at the public hearing on May 2, 2007, the Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 952 indicated the Union's willingness to strike. Under Labor Code section 1137.2(b), a strike by Teamsters Local 952 is prohibited during the period of investigation by the Board I appointed. In addition, all parties agreed that if a strike was permitted to occur, the public transportation services in Orange County would be significantly disrupted and the public's health, safety and welfare would be endangered. Based on the report it is my opinion that a strike or lockout would significantly disrupt public transportation and endanger the health, safety and welfare of the public transportation-dependent community in Orange County.
Pursuant to Labor Code section 1137.4, I am requesting that you seek an injunction to prevent any strike by the Teamsters Local 952 or lockout by the OCTA for a period of 60 days.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Source